A first half brace of goals from leading goalscorer Paul Roberts
set Bangor on the way to a North Wales Coast Cup Final win over
impressive Welsh alliance opponents Prestatyn Town at Llandudno last
night.
After Phil Priestley had saved well from Craig Griffiths
it was Bangor who took the lead on 21 minutes. Clayton Blackmore
crossed from the right for Paul Roberts
to gather and crash home past
goalkeeper Dunt rom close range. On the half hour former Rhyl
youngster Jon Fisher Cooke was taken off after an unsavoury clash with
Phil Priestley as Prestatyn pressed for an equaliser.
The Bastion Road side's defence was well marshalled by
former Bangor utility man Dave Fuller but on 42 mins City doubled their
advantage. A well judged pass down the right side was picked up
by Paul Roberts
who beat Dunt once again with a cleanly hit dirve.

The second half was saw Prestatyn launch forward in search of
some
reward and City were indebted to Phil Priestley who dealt competently
with
everything thrown at him. On the hour though it was Dunt who
caught
the eye with a tremendous stop from Chris Priest whose fifteen yarder
looked
a goal until the last moment.
City rang the changes in the second half with Ritchie Owen
and Chris Short replacing Les Davies and Clayton Blackmore on 64 mins,
and then a quarter of an hour later Peter Hoy made way for Mark
Connolly on
the right. On 81 mins it was 3-0 as Paul Friel and Paul Roberts
combined to work an opening for replacement Ritchie Owen
whose calm
finish left Dunt helpless and the destiny of the cup beyond doubt.
A clear 3-0 win for City but an evenly matched contest
with Steve Hoult in the Prestatyn midfield catching the eye along with
Dave Fuller who continued to marshall the defence effortlessly.

Former Stockport
County goalkeeper Tony Pennock gave a stunning display at Farrar Road
yesterday to help his side to a single goal victory in the final
Welsh Premiership match of the season. They were also assisted by
a superb strike from the edge of the box from one time Liverpool
academy
starlet Leyton Maxwell whose often dormant skills lit up the first hour
of this match.
The departing Paul Friel - who has completed his
University studies - was unable to take his final league bow due to
injury. Chris Priest slotted into centre midfield whilst Tony
Gray continued - albeit initially - in the right wing berth. For
the visitors former Barry narcissist Gary Lloyd played behind Maxwell
with the burly Burke partnering Mark Dodds upfront.
Attacking the Farrar End it was Paul Roberts who forced
the first save from Tony Pennock with a clean twenty yard drive.
Leyton Maxwell found former Barry striker Nicky Burke with an
inviting cross
but Phil Priestley was equal to the goalbound header. On 13 mins
though Carmarthen went ahead. There seemed little danger as the ball
dropped
to Leyton Maxwell on the edge
of the box but he unleashed a tremendous volley into the roof of the
Bangor
net with Phil Priestley grasping thin air.
Clayton Blackmore nearly caught Pennock offguard with
a floated freekick but his last minute decision to slap the ball away
proved the right one. Then Owain Jones fired on target - after a
suspicion of a foul on Tony Gray - but again Pennock was in the way.
On
the half hour Richard Kennedy was yellow carded for a clear foul on
Owain
Jones by referee Kevin Parry. Carmarthen are big physical side
and
as City pressed they committed a string of fouls, both Estyn Chiverton
and rightback Luke Hardy to the fore. The latter clattered Kevin
Scott on the left, Phil Baker delivered right footed in the direction
of
his centreback partner Paul O'Neill whose header skimmed the visitors
bar.
If Pennock had been beaten by the former Gretna defender's header
he
was quickly back in command when Kevin Scott crossed moments later.
The final action of the first half was a foul by Hardy on
Chris Priest which earned the abrasive fullback a yellow card.

Half
Time 0-1

Estyn Chiverton was yellow carded for failing to retreat at a
freekick within minutes of the restart before the big
defender used his experience gain a freekick in his area when City fans
were appealing for a penalty for a foul on Paul O'Neill. On the
hour Tony Gray set up Clayton Blackmore but once again Bangor fans were
thwarted by the alert Pennock who gladly conceded a corner on the right
and duly held the kick when it arrived moments later.
On 62 mins Les Davies was replaced by Peter Hoy who
enjoyed a foray on the right wing, delivered some useful crosses and
generally
involved himself in the procedings from the offset. His first
involvment
saw Carl Lamb crash a powerful drive on target which produced an
excellent
low save from the blasted Pennock. With some twenty minutes
remaining Kev Scott pushed forward to send in a high cross which Carl
Lamb
nodded wide from twelve yards out.
Peter Hoy is also one of the Bangor "long throw" society
and he found Paul Roberts whose clean strike was brilliantly held by
Pennock. Carmarthen then replaced the tiring Maxwell with Jimmy
James and
five minutes later, on 76, brought on the tricky Omar Abdillahi for
Mark
Dodds. The young sub may be lightweight but he does not lack for
skill or confidence if this cameo is anything to go by. The
ludicrous
Kevin Parry then yellow carded Chris Priest for a perfectly good tackle.
City built up the pressure on the visitors goal, the
impressive Richard Carter and Estyn Chiverton stood firm. Kevin
Scott's header was blocked but Owain Jones could not convert the half
chance. When Carmarthen broke Phil Baker used his pace and
positional sense to good
advantage. Into injury time Tony Gray might have done better but
at least won a corner which resulted in Owain Jones' shot being
deflected
over for a second kick which the eager Pennock held. Deep into
injury
time Peter Hoy galloped down the right and fizzed across a low cross
shot
which needed just a touch - but there was no one to apply.
The home side left the field to warm applause both for a
diehard performance and in general for achieving third position
and the possibility of that elusive European adventure.
Carmarthen
move on to two Cup finals, good luck to them - if they havent used it
all
already!

City reached the final of the North Wales Coast Challenge Cup
thanks to a 2-1 win at Colwyn Bay last night.
Bangor took the lead in the opening minutes through Owain Jones who converted a Les Davies
cross, and doubled their advantage with twenty minutes remaining when
Carl Lamb sent Paul Roberts
through to beat Matt Parry in the Bay goal.
Up to that point City
had had the better of the proceedings and saw Chris Priest hit the post
and Les Davies force a good save from Parry.
However the second goal sparked the hosts into life and a
late goal from Calvin Davies
caused Bangor a few nervous moments but they held on for a deserved win
and a place in the final.

A hatrick from young
striker Carl Lamb saw City home to an eighth win from nine games and
clinched third place and European football.
Prematch news confirmed that Chris Priest was still
hampered by the injury which forced him off at Airbus a week ago, Paul
Friel partnered Owain Jones in centre midfield.
The young striker chased down the right on a couple
of occasions in the first few minutes and delivered low crosses which
no one anticipated. Both sides won early corners but created
nothing in particular - but in the 13th minute that all changed.
Les Davies raced down the left wing an swung over an
inviting cross which Carl Lamb
headed home emphatically from six yards out. Bangor looked as if
they might take complete control as Owain Jones raced behind the Talbot
defence but Paul Roberts and goalscorer Lamb both failed to make proper
contact. However the visitors signalled their intentions as Rhys
Griffiths repeated the
feat and suffered much the same fate as Shaw failed to get on the end
of
the cross. City seemed to have a good shape, a comfortable manner
on the ball and a willingness amongst the youngsters to play for each
other.
More corners followed, with Port Talbot forcing three in
quick succession, but City's defence stood firm. Then from a
set piece Paul Roberts headed wide after the initial centre had been
half cleared. Tony Gray was enjoying a second outing inside a
week on the right wing, his left footed cross found left winger Les
Davies lurking at the back post but Rob Thomas made a great save
concede a third corner which quickly yielded a fourth. The cross
caused some kind of havoc in the vistors box but Thomas and his
defenders denied Paul O'Neill and Les
Davies before Paul Roberts effort was eventually cleared following a
fitfh
corner kick.
City had one last chance to double their advantage after a
foul on Tony Gray but the freekick was cleared. Then as the half
time whistle drew closer Talbot striker Carl Shaw just failed to get a
touch to an inviting through ball from the right. Referee
Woodthorpe blew and both sides left the field with the game still very
much in the balance.

Half
Time 1-0

Barely had Bangor fans taken their
seats after the restart when the lead was doubled on 47 mins.
Phil
Baker's clearance was controlled and turned wide by Paul Roberts in
midfield.
His sweeping pass found Tony Gray on the right whose dipping
cross
was met first time by Carl Lamb
who managed
to get across his marker and lift the ball over Thomas into the St
Pauls
End net.
On 50 mins Paul Friel made way for Mark Connolly who,
after a brief stay in centre midfield, replaced Tony Gray on the right
with Paul Roberts taking over in alongside Owain Jones. City's
top scorer crashed a ball across the box moments later he supplied Carl
Lamb twernty yards out but Thomas pulled off a good save to deny the
youngster his hatrick. Kev Scott sent the resulting corner onto
the roof of the net but then found time and space to deliver a vicious
low cross which again eluded the forwards. Owain Jones continued
to influence the central areas whilst Paul O'Neill again and again rose
to the challenge of anything within 40 yards of him.
On the hour substitute Mark Connolly hit the post from
twenty yards with Thomas well beaten, then Rhys Griffiths forced a good
save from City 'keeper Phil Priestley with a clean low drive.
Scott repeated the low cross from the left but again no one could
capitalise. Manager Peter Davenport had little choice but to
replace an injured Phil Baker, patient Peter Hoy taking his place.
Talbot replaced the impressive Scott Gorvett with Matthew Roberts
after the hard working defender had received treatment after a clash on
the left.
On 70 mins it was 3-0 as Carl
Lamb latched onto Paul Roberts powerful headed through ball
to beat Thomas from the edge of the box after a heavy first touch had
drawn the 'keeper off his line. A first hatrick for the pacey
young
striker and one which confirmed his rich promise. But Talbot had
not read the script and Carl Shaw
found time and space on the right to beat Phil Priestley from eight
yards
to worry the home support. On 77 mins the level of concern rose
again
after a howler from Ref Woodthorpe who allowed Talbot to take a quick
freekick
ten yards from the original spot.
Young substitute Matt Roberts
raced clear on the left and
beat Phil Priestley with a powerful drive from the edge of the box.
With time running out Leigh DeVulgt nearly levelled
the scores but Phil Priestley pulled off a superb one handed save.
Paul Roberts set the willing Lamb free down the middle but Thomas
was off
his line quickly to clear, finally a shot from Tony Gray hit Carl Lamb
but may wel have been travelling wide.
There was a sigh of relief at the end from the Farrar Road
faithful, three points gained and evidence that City have another
striker that the club along the coast will be desperate to sign in due
course.

If Wrexham are
relegated from Coca Cola League One - as seems likely -
there is a fair chance that their manager and supporters will say they
were unlucky and did not deserve to lose the games they lost.
They
might do well to reflect on the amount of luck they used up at Farrar
Road
this evening in the Premier Cup Semi Final win over a Bangor side which
more than matched their full time opponents.
True the opening quarter belonged to the visitors.
With Mark Jones and Levi Mackin working hard in midfield and the
unpredictable Hecotr Sam on the lose, City took a while to settle.
Indeed the early roll of the dice favoured Bangor as Sam raced
past Kevin Scott and saw his goalbound near post effort skim off Phil
Baker before being deflected wide by Phil Priestley's feet.
During this early pressure centrebacks Paul O'Neill and Phil
Baker were both outstanding as they dealt
with everything that was thrown - or kicked - at them.
Then on 25 minutes City had the lead. Tony Gray
found space on the right, pulled the ball infield to Paul Friel whose
first time cross was met by an inch perfect diving header from Paul Roberts which beat Wrexham
goalkeeper Ben Foster's full length dive. If one incident can
change the
shape of a match this certainly did. Bangor gained confidence
and cracks quickly appeared a the visitors defence which has leaked 73
league goals this season. Tony Gray gathered the ball on the
right,
turned despite the attention of Morgan, but saw his eight yard shot
spin
wide. By now Owain Jones and Paul Friel had established
themselves
in midfield with non stop action on and off the ball.
Ten minutes before the interval City were saved by an
dubious offside flag. Impressive 21 year old local midfielder
Mark Jones split the Bangor defence with a well placed pass which was
finished in style by Chris Armstrong, but the official intervened to
cut short
the celebrations.
Wrexham gained momentum again and once more Baker
& O'Neill were in business with a mixture of timely interventions
and booming clearances. But with time running out Bangor should
have doubled their advantage. Carl Lamb raced clear, leaving the
cumbersome Morgan floundering in his wake, but as he ran on goal the
yong striker could only watch in disbelief as what looked like a
perfectly
placed low finish was brilliantly palmed onto the post by visiting
'keeper
Ben Foster. In the final minute of the half Mark Jones blazed
over
from outside the box and both sides left the field with much to think
about.

Half
Time 1-0

Five minutes after the restart Carl Lamb again got the better of
the Wrexham defence but Foster raced off
his line and smothered the iniital danger. The 22 year old loan
signing from Stoke City was slowly but surely proving a thorn in the
side of City's hopes. Mark Jones continued his habit of shooting from
distance with another 25 yarder which Phil Priestley held comfortably.
Les Davies was unsettling the visitors right side
with a mixture of pace and power. On one such occasion he
controlled the ball after slipping to pass across goal for Tony Gray
but Wrexham gladly conceded the corner kick. The corner, taken by
Clayton Blackmore, was half cleared to Carl Lamb but his cross fell
awkwardly for Les Davies who headed over. Moments later Kev Scott
charged down the left but was blotted out by Craig Morgan.
On 62 mins Wrexham were level in farcical fashion.
Former Chester defender Alex Smith sent in a loose cross which
Phil
Priestley tried to catch one handed, snatched as the ball slipped and
bounced off his knee and was then adjudged to have fouled Chris
Armstrong as the Llay veteran fell over rather theatrically on the edge
of the box. The Bangor bench pointed out that the linesman -
directly in line and
closely positioned - had not flagged by referee Ray Ellingham awarded
the
kick which Chris Armstrong quickly
got up to convert from the statutory twelve paces.
Bangor should have regained the lead within minutes as a
long throw from Kev Scott was flicked on by Morgan and headed goalwards
by Tony Gray. Those watching at the St Pauls End began celebrating but
neither officials signalled a goal and play went on.
Then Carl Lamb was in on goal once more but a timely
intervention by Shaun Pejic stopped him in his tracks. City continued
to press forward as left winger Les Davies passed to Owain Jones but
his goalbound effort was blocked by Holt on twelve yards out.
With twenty minutes remaining Phil Baker went on a marauding run
on the left and crashed in a low cross which Carl Lamb turned over with
Tony Gray better placed.
Levi Mackin picked up the failing of shooting wildly from
distance before another long throw from Kev Scott was flicked at by Les
Davies and dropped for Tony Gray whose overhead kick flew well wide.
With around ten minutes left another long throw flicked on
by Les Davies was headed firmly on target by Owain Jones but Foster
pulled off an incredible one handed stop for another corner which ended
Clayton Blackmore hitting the side netting.
On 82 mins Wrexham scored what proved to be the winner.
Hector Sam raced past Paul O'Neill and Phil Baker on the left,
pulled the bal back for midfielder Mark Jones
whose low finish beat Phil Priestley from eight yards. The next
action was the introduction of Denis Lawrence for Andy Holt before Kev
Scott's long throw was again flicked on by Les Davies but pushed from
under
his crossbar by the increasingly impressive Foster. Referee
Ellingham
then showed commonsense when Clayton Blackmore was spoken to rather
than
red carded for a foul on Alex Smith.
In the final minutes City replaced Phil Baker with Peter
Hoy but he had little time to make an impact and the final whistle blew
with the visitors escaping with a largely undeserved win. BBC
Wales adjudicator Ian Walsh made Ben
Foster the man of the match;
enough said. A word for Carl Lamb whose workrate and attitude
were exceptional, his time will surely come.

This was a better
result for those not involved than it was for Bangor or
Airbus as neither side could pick up the three points needed to make
a difference at the top or bottom of the Welsh Premiership.
Dominated by a perishing wind which swept in from the
airfield, Airbus had the territorial advantage in the first period but
only managed one shot on target. Bereft of the guiding influence
of Clayton Blackmore and his right wing ally Gareth Williams, Bangor
were probably content with a blank first half but frustrated by the
second.
That goalbound effort from midfielder James Woods brought
a competent save from Phil Priestley who otherwise had little to do,
apart from gather the occasional overhit long ball and "up and under"
in his six yard area. Otherwise he would have been grateful for
some outstanding defending from those in front of him, in particular
Paul O'Neill who won every header with and managed some effective
clearances into the wind.
City's best attacking opportunities came on the
left where Les Davies was up against the towering Steve Hughes.
Carl Lamb thought he had grabbed the lead with a finish
from the edge of the box but referee Lee Evans had whistled for
handball against the pacey young striker.
However Bangor suffered a serious setback on 40
minutes when experienced midfielder Chris Priest, who had suffered a
back injury, had to be replaced by Paul Friel. The best move of
the first half saw Kevin Scott pass deep from left to right to Mark
Connolly
whose cross found Carl Lamb but the final moment spoilt the moment as
Paul Roberts ballooned his effort onto the runway.
The final act of the first half saw Carl Lamb thread a
through ball for Mark Connolly but his run on goal ended in a shot
which crashed narrowly wide to the relief of 'Bus goalkeeper Paul
Whitfield. However there was a sense of achievement in reaching
the interval with a clean sheet considering the strength and direction
of the wind - not to mention the temperature!

Half
Time 0-0

City fans rubbed their hands together and contemplated a wind
assisted assault on the Airbus goal. It took ten long minutes for
the first cause for concern as Kevin Scott's
long throw was flicked on by the veteran Dodds and grabbed by Whitfield
in his six yard area. On the hour another long throw from the
Wrexham
based leftpeg was headed on by Les Davies but Whitfield was able to
palm
over for a corner which in turn was scrambled clear.
Kevin Scott then crossed from the left but Paul
Robert's header flew over from eight yards. Owain Jones was
emerging
as the central figure in Bangor attacks and his powerful run down the
left resulted in a deep cross to Mark Connolly on the righthand edge
of the box. His layoff found Carl Lamb but Whitfield again saved
well.
The belligerent Hopkins conceded a freekick on the right
as City attacked. Kevin Scott placed the ball and with everyone
expecting a high swirler he kept his shot down and wastched with
disappointment as Whitifled scrambled down to gather despite the
attentions of Paul Roberts. On 65 mins another high ball from
Kevin Scott caused confusion but Paul Roberts saw his shot on the turn
fire over. Scott then had
another freekick held by Whitfield after a handball from Hopkins was
spotted
by referee Evans.
With twenty minutes left on the clock Mark Connolly sent
a thirty yard drive over the crossbar after a clever layoff from Carl
Lamb. Airbus then replaced centreforward Kevin Leech with
Simon Andrews whose pace was to prove a concern for the blues defence.
Minutes later Bangor forced three corners on the left, with Paul
Whitfield finally claiming the third with some relief. City sent
on young Ben Ogilvy for Les Davies who was injured on the half way line
some minutes earlier.
Bangor won a freekick on the right hand edge of
the box as Hopkins fouled Mark Connolly but to no benefit.
Manager
Peter Davenport then opted to throw on Peter Hoy in an attacking role
in place of rightback Chris Short who had enjoyed a fine battling
performance
in difficult conditions. Hoy quickly joined the action as he
crashed a shot goalwards from the right but John Davies blocked bravely.
On 86 mins City were awared a penalty for a foul on Carl
Lamb. To the disbelief of the Bangor hordes Paul Rooberts struck
the crossbar with his spot kick and Airbus again lashed the ball clear.
There was still to be one final chance as Peter Hoy latched onto
a ball on the edge of the box, turned on goal but sent his shot high
over the bar from twelve yards.
The final whistle blew and although some home fans
cheered it was more a case of points dropped for both sides.
However credit where it is due as the Airbus defence, superably
marshalled by the veteran Paul Dodd, fought gallantly in what at times
was a remake of the Alamo.

After a couple of good
wins on the road at Aberystwyth and Rhyl it was never going to be easy
against the Bluebirds of Caersws. Fittingly then a solitary first
half strike from Clayton Blackmore settled the dispute in a match of
many wasted chances from both sides.
Manager Peter Davenport gave Chris Priest his first start
since recovering from his broken leg, with Clayton Blackmore
at rightback and Gareth Williams on the right wing. Despite tales
of woe, Caersws fielded pretty much their strongest side allowing for
the absence of midfielder Chris Venables. It was Bangor who
should have gone ahead in the opening minutes. Paul Roberts
turned the
ball into the path of Gareth Williams whose deep cross reacehd big Les
Davies but his back post header went just wide. Caersws responded
as former City favourite Ricky Evans lofted into the box for Graham
Evans
but the little marksman crashed his shot wide. Andy Marfell, who
look
sharp in the early exchanges, setn a dipping volley just over.
Then on eight minutes what was to prove the only goal of
the game. Les Davies combined well with Chris Priest on the left,
the former Chester schemer ran into the box and was brought down
by Huw Clarke. Blatant penalty? Not according to Steve
Hames
who waved play on and the ball was cleared to rightback Clayton Blackmore who immediately drove
the ball beyond Andy Mulliner from fully 35 yards.
Caesws then enjoyed a period of pressure and forced a
couple of corners. Phil Baker and Paul O'Neill were made to
work hard in central defence. On twenty minutes Carl Lamb charged
at the visitors defence, beat three or four defenders but saw the ball
run away from him at the vital moment and watched as Mulliner made a
clean low save. Minutes later Les Davies latched onto a cross,
cut inside onto his right foot, but Reynodls made a brave block.
Then Paul
O'Neill charged down a Geraint Lewis volley in similar fashion as the
game
swept end to end.
City won a corner on the right, an inswinging corner from
Kevin Scott was header off target by Carl Lamb. Owain Jones was
clearly enjoying his battle with Ricky Evans and Geraint Lewis, so too
Chris Priest who supplied Carl Lamb on the right. His run and
cross found Paul Roberts but again Mulliner made a good save. The
Bluebirds were still searching for an equaliser and when Sean Jehu
crossed from the left City were glad to see Graham Evans just fail to
make a clean contact at the back post.
Five minutes before the interval Clayton Blackmore tried
to double his tally but a long range volley dipped just over
the crossbar.

Half
Time 1-0

The first action of the second period involved a superb save from
Phil Priestley who blocked a point blank
effort from Graham Evans. Then City's towering midfileder Owain
Jones sped down the right and fired in a cross which eluded City's
strikers. On 55 mins the first change of the afternoon came after
Gareth Williams has been clattered by Sean Jehu and was replaced on the
right by Mark
Connolly.
Carl Lamb worked hard to get on the end of a high ball
from Paul Roberts but the 36 year old Colin Reynolds used his
experience to clear the danger. On the hour City could have doubled
their advantage when Les Davies broke clear, passed to Kevin Scott who
teed up Chris Priest but his scuffed effort was easy for Andy Mulliner.
Paul O'Neill
then had to be alert to clear from Davies before Les Davies again
turned
provider but Carl Lamb's shot was too close to the visitors' custodian.
Mark Connolly was next in the firing line to block a goalbound
shot in hsi own six yard area. Up to the Farrar End and a double
blast from Les Davies - the second as he slid on the grass - came to
nothing. Referee Hames then booked the veteran Reynolds for a
foul on City's midfieder Chirs Priest. On 73 mins former
Shrewsbury Town apprentice Neville Thompson replaced Graham Jones but
made little impact on procedings.
Moments later Carl Lamb chased down the left, crossed near
post, but Owain Jones scuffed his effort. With ten minutes
remaining Andy Mulliner ran out to beat Kevin Scott to a long through
ball and seemed to step out of his area with the ball in hand, but
nothing
was given. On 84 mins Geraint Lewis made way for Jack Bermingham,
then Phil Priestley saved well from Graham Evans who shot from the edge
of the box looked a goal all the way. In the final minute City
sent
on Peter Hoy for a disgruntled Paul Roberts, then Owain Jones forced
one
last outstanding save from Andy Mulliner after good build up play from
Les
Davies.
Deep into the five minutes of injury time Paul
Friel came on for Les Davies who received a good ovation form the City
fans. Finally Steve Hames belw his whistle and the Bangor lads
marched off with a seventh straight win under their belts.

Bangor won this North
Wales derby after some poor defending before the break and seizing the
initiative after the restart. There were hard working
performances from - amongst other - Owain Jones, Phil Baker and Carl
Lamb
but the double blast from Paul Robers was too hot for Rhyl to handle
and
sent the blue horde home in good heart.
City might well have gone ahead inside five minutes when a
Kevin Scott freekick found Paul Roberts unmarked infront of goal but
his header flew over the bar with goalkeeper Paul Smith flat footed.
On ten minutes Rhyl were not so wasteful as Andy
Moran sneaked in at the right hand post to crash the ball
home off Phil Priestley after Lee Hunt had fired wide from the left.
City hit back with Phil Baker's chip setting up Carl Lamb
but Smith pulled off a brave stop. The ball ran out to
Clayton Blackmore whose low cross was caught first time by Paul Roberts
but his low shot sped narrowly wide. On twenty minutes Phil
Priestley made a good save from Marc Limbert, who moments later hit the
crossbar with a twenty yard freekick which seemed to bounce on the line
and was scrambled clear.
However on 23 minutes City were level. A
long throw from the left delivered by Kevin Scott was flicked on by
Les Davies and bungled home by top scorer Paul
Roberts from point blank range with 'keeper Smith flapping
like a goose on ice. Rhyl retaliated with Lee Hunt charging clear
but Phil Priestley slid in to snuff out the danger as the ball cannoned
out for what should have been a goalkick but somehow became a corner.
Bangor were having problems dealing with long clearances
and were grateful to Phil Baker's timely intervention on the right.
With ten minutes to go to the interval Eifion Jones slid in
bravely
to concede a corner when the hosts originally won a freekick. The
final five minutes saw Carl Lamb run down the right wing and cross for
Paul Roberts in the six yard area. Gareth Wilson fired goalwards
but his shot struck Andy Moran and went out for a goalkick. As the game
swung end to end Lee Hunt wasted a good chance for Rhyl, but the hosts
still went in ahead at half time.
On 41mins a bouncing ball again caused problems, allowing
Moran to set up Marc Limbert whose
powerful low drive beat Phil Priestley at his left hand post to the
delight of the home fans behind his goal. Bangor were probably
relieved to hear the half time whistle as Peter Davenport would be keen
to address some of the causes for concern evident in the first period.

Half
Time 2-1

At half time Bangor sent on right winger Gareth Williams in place
of Eifion Jones. In the re-shuffle Clayton Blackmore dropped to
rightback and Phil Baker lined up alongside Paul O'Neill at centreback.
City's first opening of the second period fell to Clayton
Blackmore but his long range effort was always rising over the bar.
Phil Priestley then raced out to punch a dangerous cross but was
relieved to see Lee Hunt head off target when the
loose ball was lofted back into the six yard area.
Carl Lamb was causing the Rhyl defence problems with his
hurrying and chasing. On one raid he raced down the right, ran
along the goalline and crossed for Paul Roberts but the ball span
behind City's leading goalscorer and the chance was gone. However
on 61 mins Bangor were level with Lamb again involved in build up.
Rhyl failed to clear a bouncing ball on the edge of the box, Les
Davies passed to Owain Jones who was fouled by Simon Davies. The home
side set up a
wall which happily disintegrated when Paul Roberts pushed the freekick
two yards to his right for Clayton Blackmore
to drill home from 25 yards into Smith's bottom corner.
Referee Jones then yellow carded Simon Davies and Kevin
Scott for precious little but in fairness maintained control on
proceedings. Lee Hunt briefly clashed with Phil Priestley as
he stretched to touch a goalbound effort from Moran. On seventy
minutes Chris Priest came on for Paul Friel who had received treatment
in the centre circle following a late tackle. There was a further
stoppage when a Rhyl fan ran on the pitch - not quite streaking - but
was neither intercepted nor restrained by the police or stewards.
City sent over crosses from right and left which bemused
the hapless Smith - cue more flapping - and ended in Carl Lamb heading
narrowly wide at the back post. On 78 mins City had the all
important lead. Owain Jones won possession on the right
flank, just inside his own half, and lofted the ball forward for
leading goalscorer Paul Roberts to
chase. He kept calm and despite the attention of Lee Atherton,
calmly bounced the
ball past Smith inside the left hand post.
A couple more subs followed, with Chris McGinn
replacing Lee Atherton and then Tony Gray coming on for Carl Lamb.
Referee Jones played the seemingly inevitable lengthy injury time
- four minutes or slightly more - but City were camped in Rhyl
territory
and never looking like letting the result out of their grasp.
When
the whislte finally blew the large open spaces where those overtight
white shirts had been minutes earlier told their own story. A
hard
fought win and a double over Rhyl for Bangor; business as usual.

Bangor survived a
sound kicking at Park Avenue to come away with three points
and pick up a fifith Welsh Premiership win on the bounce.
Trailing
at half time City struck back through Tony Gray and Paul Roberts to
secure
the win which earned a second place in the league table at 5.30pm.
Bari Morgan may be short in stature but he does not lack
malice as a seventh minute two footed tackle on Kevin Scott confirmed.
However despite this unwelcome side to their nature Aber can play
football, most of their better moments involving former Telford
striker Paul Moore. He might have put the hosts ahead with a neat
one-two on the right but his rising drive was parried over at the near
post by Phil Priestley. Gavin Allen then miskicked from six yards
to the left after he latched onto a half chance following a Paul
O'Neill
header.
Bangor's first chance came courtesey of some
slack defending from Sion James who let the ball run to Les Davies.
The big winger ran at goal and saw his swerving drive touched
behind by Lewis Solly but referee Jones awarded a goalkick. Aber
again went close when former Andy Mumford, resplendent in his Swansea
City shorts, headed on target from twelve yards but was denied by
Priestley's
acrobatic save. The less acceptable side of The Seasiders nature
re-surfaced on 26 minutes when Luke Sherborn was lucky to be yellow
carded
for a two footed lunge on Paul Friel.
On the half hour Clayton Blackmore latched onto a short
corner from Kevin Scott but fired over from the right. Then on 31
minutes Aberystwyth took a deserved lead. Sherborn - who really
should have been watching from the stand - gathered a lose clearance on
the right, passed to Paul Moore who squared for Gavin
Allen to slot home from close range. The noisy Dias
stand student contingent sprang to life in celebration with chants of
"Seasiders".
Five minutes before the interval the eccentric Lewis Solly
presented a chance to Tony Gray who latched onto the dropped ball but
could only shoot straight at the prone 'keeper who saved
the situation with a good stop. Gary Lewis got into the action
with a crushing challenge on Owain Jones. City's leading
goalscorer
then blasted over from the edge of the box and finally Solly just
cleared
in time as Tony Gray closed in on a long ball from Les Davies.
Both sides had reason to feel confident at the whistle,
Aber had the lead but City had shown in the closing stages a sense of
purpose which yielded a couple of late chances.

Half
Time 1-0

On 50 minutes Owain Jones won the ball in midfield and sprayed
the ball out to Les Davies who galloped down the left beyond Sion
James. He looked up and crossed for Tony
Gray who nipped in ahead of Paul Roberts to slip the ball
past Solly from eight yards. This time is was the Bangor fans who
had moved into the Dias Stand who cheered.
Aber tried to counter but found the uncompromising figure
of Paul O'Neill blocking their path. Moments later Tony Gray ran
clear with Paul Roberts for company but hesitated momentarily and James
slid in to clear the danger. On 58 mins James was replaced by Nic
Evans who took up the unenviable task of trying to shackle City's
runaway truck but could only watch as his cross was headed down by
Owain Jones for Paul Roberts but his low drive flashed wide from eight
yards.
On the hour City had the lead at last. Owain Jones
again won the ball in midfield, slotted through to Paul Roberts who saw his first effort
grabbed on the floor by Solly. However the former Welshpool
'keeper
failed to hold on and watched in horror as City's top scorer scuffed
the ball in off the post. This was Bangor's tenth goal of the
season past the hapless Solly.
Minutes later the unlikely sight of Gavin Allen being
yellow carded for a late challenge on Kevin Scott. Phil Priestley
then did well to deny Bari Morgan whose deflected shot span awkwardly
goalwards. On 67 mins Chris Priest replaced Paul Friel in the
Bangor midfield, then Owain Jones was yellow carded for an observation
to the mindless Mike Jones that Aneurin Thomas had kneed Les Davies in
the back. Eifion Jones and Paul O'Neill were in control at the
back, ably assisted by Phil Baker and Kevin Scott. Bari Morgan
then punched Clayton Blackmore in the back of the head - play on -
before the rotund Mumford was replaced by Sion Meredith. Paul
Moore then tried his luck with a kick at Les Davies which again went
unpunished.
With five minutes to go Clayton Blackmore made way for
Carl Lamb, moments earlier Aneurin Thomas escaped punishment for a
blatant body check on Tony Gray on the half way line. Lamb added
some pace and movement to the City frontline and won a freekick by the
right hand corner flag. Kevin Scott delivered but Paul
Roberts saw his header fly over. Coates then won Aber a corner
with a well hit cross as Bangor became frustrated by a series of hit
and miss linesmen decisions against Roberts and Gray. Les Davies
and then Bari Morgan went close in stoppage time, finally Carl Lamb was
denied by Solly but the final act fell to Mike Jones who yellow carded
Chris Priest for reasons unknown.

On a windswept
evening at Farrar Road it was fitting that City made heavy weather of
beating bottom placed visitors Cefn Druids
The prevailing wind blew straight at the St Pauls Endf
which dictated that most chances - and goals - would arrive at that
end. It also suggested that a goalless first half into the wind -
irrespective of the visitor's league position - would be the perfect
platform for a second half seige. In both cases that is just how
things worked out.
Bangor enjoyed a good deal of first half possession
against the wind and could have been ahead at the interval. An
early chance created by Phil Baker fell to young striker Carl Lamb but
he failed to hit the target, a feat Clayton Blackmore did manage with a
25 yard freekick but Mackin held comfortably. City gave a debut to
local lad Darren Owen in goal, Due in part to the wind he was
involved throughout the first period, calmly collecting crosses and
picking up
overhit through balls. On the quarter hour he went one better and
raced off his line to collect at the feet of Miek Thompson and earn a
warm
round of applause.
City responded with a shot on target from Carl Lamb and
then a rare right footed effort from Kevin Scott who latched onto a
pass from Les Davies but fired at Mackin from the edge of the
box. Good approach play on the right involving Clayton Blackmore
and Carl Lamb saw Owain Jones stab the ball goalwards from six yards
but
Mackin eventually gathered. Midway through the half Owain Jones
thought
he had scored but the lineman's flag cut the celebrations short,
presumably for offside. It was just after the half hour mark when
the ultra
cautious Druids won their first corner. Two minutes later
calamity
for the visitors as Tom Coulson caught Owain Jones with a two footed
lunge
and was red carded by Referee Brian Lawler who could scarcely have been
better positioned. The Druids defence - before and after - was
held
together by the willing Gareth Barton who did more than most to keep
the
home side at bay.
City's towering midfielder recovered after
treatment and went close to grabbing the lead with a diving header
which Mackin held after Paul Friel and Kevin Scott combined on the
left. Bangor gathered momentum as Paul Roberts crashed a shot
against the angle of post and crossbar after controlling a pass from
Clayton Blackmore. Then the former Welsh cap latched onto a
telling
pass from Phil Baker but was denied by a superb one handed stop from
The Druids custodian which yielded City's second corner.
The half time cup of tea brigade were
divided between those frustrated by a lack of goals and - in the
other camp - those who felt that the second half would prove to much
for the visitors overworked defence.

Half
Time 0-0

The glass half empty clan had further cause for doubt in the
opening stages of the second period as wind
assisted efforts from Les Davies and Carl Lamb flew off target.
Then
on the 55 minutes the glass half full brigade had reason to be cheerful.
City won their third corner of the evening
on the left. Clayton Blackmore delivered to the back post where Owain Jones was on hand to convert from
close
range for a much needed opening goal. Relief all round?
Carl Lamb forced a decent save of Mackin moments later, and a
fourth corner followed but no clear cut chance. On the hour the
welcome sight of Chris Priest taking to the field in place of a
weary looking Paul Friel who had hounded TNS off the park only three
days earlier. His arrival brought a sense of absolute control the
midfield. Picking up a loose ball on the right Clayton Blackmore
shot from 35 yards but narrowly missed the target.
Midway through the second half Owain Jones
had two contrasting efforts. The first from six yards after
a neat turn in the box sped just wide of the post. The second moments
later was a 35 yarder which skimmed the righthand post and stirred
the hardy souls in the St Pauls End. When the visitors rallied
and threated to attack the Bangor defence, well marshalled by Eifion
Jones and Paul O'Neill, simply closed them out. The occasional
foray down the left wing by the diminutive Thompson found him being
escorted back to safety by the outstanding Phil Baker. Kev Scott
had no direct opponent and indulged in forward runs and telling passes.
On 73 minutes it was game over to the relief of the "never
safe at 1-0 society". The goal came after a period of composed
and controlled passing from side to side and eventually
to Clayton Blackmore who crossed from the right for Paul Roberts to head back across goal
and into the net for his 20th league goal of the season. Still
has
his share of critics which - it would seem - is a bit harsh but thats
football.
City immediately sent on 16 year old Ben Ogilvy in place
of the veteran Carl Lamb with Kev Scott pushing forwards
and Les Davies joining the font line. The young leftpeg made a good
impression with an early interception and well weighted pass to Scott
whose inviting cross was headed behind by the hard working Barton
On
84 mins Owain Jones made way for Mark Connolly. Young Ogilvy got
a shot at goal thanks to a cushioned lay off by Paul Roberts, then
Chris
Priest crossed from the left but Les Davies headed wide when well
placed.
In the closing minutes Mike Thompson made way for substitute
Carwyn
Davies, and in the last action of the night young Ben Ogilvy denied the
visitors a consolation goal when he headed Eifion Jones' miscued header
off the line following a Drudis corner. Jones scarcely deserved a
black mark against his name and would be keen to buy the Llanrug
fullback an orange juice!
A fourth straight win for City and a clean
sheet for Darren Owen in his first appearance. Not one suggestion
of "sack the manager" all night either!

What a win!
Bangor deservedly beat the full timers of TNS
with a twenty yard strike from Paul Roberts but this was a great
team performance from back to front and from the first whistle to
the last.
With Rhyl losing at Llanelli the visitors clearly had
their minds set on going six points clear but Peter Davenport had read
their script and picked his side accordingly. To counter the
threat of King and Lawless on the TNS left, Bangor selected Phil Baker
at right back with Clayton Blackmore adding presence to midfield.
This worked well, as did the two central partnerships, Eifion
Jones & Paul O'Neill dominant at the back, Paul Friel and
Owain Jones forcing through the midfield. Left
winger Les Davies won an early corner for Bangor and minutes later
ended a good run with a low cross which hit the near post from a tight
angle. On the quarter hour mark a second corner created a half chance
for Paul Roberts but his back post header flew over. Within two
minutes Paul O'Neill threw himself into the path of a fierce drive from
Michael Wilde. One corner followed another but Bangor cleared to
the relief of the sparse home crowd.
Steve Evans had to be alert to concede a
corner as Les Davies ran on goal, then Eifion Jones responded swiftly
as Wilde threatened. Moments later the big striker slid in at
the near post but Phil Priestley got the slightest of deflections to
yield another corner which Eifion Jones hammered clear. John
Lawless then crossed from the left but Paul O'Neill header away.
John Leah should have done better with a half chance after Jamie
Wood missed out. Rightback Martin Naylor then forced a corner
with a shot on target before launching a freekick into the box which
Phil Priestley punched clear.
Referee Ray Ellingham, who had enjoyed a
straightforward first half, blew the half time whistle with the
scores tied which just about reflected the pattern of play.

Half
Time 0-0

Carl Lamb and Les Davies went close for City in the opening
minutes before TNS won their fifth corner
of the afternoon five minutes after the restart. The first effort
of note saw Paul O'Neill block a goalbound effort from Michael Wilde
then on the hour Paul Roberts fired well over from outside the box. On
the hour mark Bangor legend Marc Lloyd Williams came on for Jamie
Wood.
On 65 minutes the first Bangor substitution, a straight
swap of Tony Gray for Carl Lamb. Immediately Paul O'Neill foraged
on the left, won the ball and crossed for Paul Roberts but the cross
proved a foot too high and flew into the arms of Doherty. However
on 69 minutes the Criccieth striker lit up the afternoon with a
wonderful opening goal. Paul Friel gathered the ball in centre
midfield and passed to Phil Baker on the right. He crossed onto
the edge of the visitors box for Paul Roberts
to fire home with a first time effort which bounced in front of the
diving Doherty and into the net.
John Lawless went close for the visitors
before there was stoppage as Owain Jones received treatment following
a clash of heads with Steve Evans in the TNS box. Nothing
sinister in that, but during the stoppage John Toner replaced Lawless.
As Chris King returned the ball to Bangor with a long clearance
the sub ignored the usual protocol and chased goalwards to shoot at
Phil Priestley. Caernarfon remembered? How championships
are won? It visibly rattled the Bangor players who berated the
offender.
The closing quarter followed the pattern
of the previous 75 minutes as the Bangor defence stood firm and TNS
failed to capitalise on the chances which came their way. On 78
mins Steve Evans was shown the yellow card for a "leading elbow" on
Phil Baker and might have been sent off for a slap on City's goalscorer
which went unseen by the officials. Paul Friel fired over from
thirty yards and minutes later Clayton Blackmore repeated the feat.
With five minutes remaining Eifion Jones
again blocked an effort from Wilde, the visitors forced a couple
of corners but did not threaten Phil Priestley's goal. City
might have doubled their advantage when Les Davies raced down the
left and saw his low cross deflected back to Doherty by a relieved
if unwitting Tmmy Holmes. In the closing minutes Neil Thomas
replaced
Les Davies, Marc Lloyd Williams misfired infront of goal, and then at
the very end Paul Roberts and Tony Gray broke to eventually win a
corner
which used up the seconds left. A deserved win, a battling
performance,
and one which shows Bangor still have more than a passing interest in
the outcome of the championship.

Bangor were worthy
winners on a sunny Victoria Road as Owain Jones and Paul Friel
controlled the midfield and the pacey Carl Lamb
continued his promising start with two well taken goals. There
were also impressive performances from Phil Baker at the back and
the marauding Les Davies on the left wing with that usual mixture
of power and trickery. Also Tony Gray made a good fist of his
unusual right wing role.
The opening stages were even enoug with home left winger
Steven Parry forcing an interception from Phil Priestley, then City
forced their first corner as Neil Thomas parried the ball away from
Carl Lamb's shot. A long throw from the left found
Talbot No 9 Rhys Griffithsh lurking six yars out but his firm header
was too close to Phil Priestley new gloves.
On 29 minutes City had the lead. New signing Carl Lamb controlled the ball inside the
box with back to goal, turned a found the space to Thomas' right for an
impressive finish. The first half half continued to be evenly
contested and Port Talbot migth have drawn
level five minutes before the interval. Left winger Steve
Parry hit a fierce drive on target from ten yards but was denied by
Phil Priestley's amazing stop and then astonished as Rhys Griffiths
blasted high over the bar as the ball bounced invitingly before him.
As time ran out Bangor forced a couple more corners as
Tony Gray went close and Les Davies worked hard, but
Thomas's goal was not threatened. But Bangor
walked off the happier and just about deserved
the first half advantage.

Half
Time 0-1

Bangor seized the initiative from the restart and a fine run from
right winger Tony Gray created an
opening for Paul Friel but his effort lacked power. The next
opening fell to Gray after Les Davies charged through the midfield to
supply the little striker but his effort flew wide.
On 59 minutes Bangor doubled their lead. Phil Baker
won a header in midfield, Carl Lamb flicked on and
Paul Roberts slid the ball past Thomas
despite a less than clean contact. Moments later the goalscorer
clipped
the ball forward but Les Davies's header was held by Thomas. On
62
minutes City went 3-0 up with a goal that was initially claimed by Paul
Roberts whose shot was drifting towards the left hand post.
However Carl Lamb rightly
decided that nothing was certain about the effort and crashed home his
second goal
of the afternoon from point blank range.
With points seemingly in the bag Bangor
boss Peter Davenport sent on Eifion Jones for the impressive Phil
Baker who had a slight knock. Andrew Pearson found time and
space to shoot but Phil Priestley held comfortably. City won
a couple more corners through Tony Gray and Les Davies and seemed set
fair for a comfortable win. More changes were made as Mark
Connolly
& Adam Roscoe came on for Clayton Blackmore and Owain Jones.
Port Talbot had not read the script though and narrowed
the deficit on 77 minutes when Carl Shaw
raced in behind the Bangor defence to slot home past Phil Priestley and
raise the spirits of the home fans. City survived some nervous
moments at the hosts huffed and puffed but could not blow the visitors
house down, and as often happens when you are struggling, left the back
door open themselves. Paul Roberts went close on a couple of
occasions but could not find his way past the persistent Talbot defence.
Gathering the ball on the right Tony
Gray shaped to go outside the home defence but switched feet
as he cut across goal before driving low past Thomas from fifteen yards
for a convincing 4-1 scoreline and his first goal since December.

What a difference
three days make! Inspired by Owain Jones and
Paul Friel City ran riot in a first half demolition of a Welshpool
side who featured several players with strong Bangor connections,
including wingers Gary Roberts and Kenny Burgess.
City boss Peter Davenport rang the changes with fullbacks
Clayton Blackmore and Gareth Williams on the right, Kevin Scott and Les
Davies on the left. Upfront there was a start
for 20 year Carl Lamb who had signed from Cammell Laird. The
changes paid off almost immediately. A Les Davies shot was
deflected for an early corner on the right which was flapped at by
'Pool goalkeeper Grant Dawson for Owain Jones
to crash home inside three minutes. It nearly got better moments
later when Paul Roberts raced clear to beat Dawson on the edge of the
box but his shot drifted just wide of the post. With eight
minutes on the clock it scarcely mattered. Clayton Blackmore's
long clearance was chased by the Carl Lamb
who drove past Dawson from twenty yards out to notch a debut goal to
remember.
However as the travelling blues were looking forward to a
goal glut Welshpool hit back. Dowridge sent
a high ball towards the edge of the Bangor box which Phil Priestley
failed to gather and former Oswestry striker Steve
Rogers netted confidently to halve the deficit on twelve
minutes. After three goals in less than fifteen minutes it was
inevitable that there would be a lull in proceedings.
On the half hour Bangor sprang back into goalscoring
action. City won a freekick on the half way line which Kevin
Scott took quickly to Paul Roberts on the left wing.
He cut infield before crossing right footed to the marauding Les Davies whose first time
side footer flew past Dawson for a 3-1 lead. Within two minutes
it was 4-1 and the game was effectively over. Les Davies crossed
from the left, Paul Friel headed on and Paul
Roberts collected the ball before appearing to slighlty
mishit the ball beyond Dawson and into the far corner.
City were now on the rampage, with Paul Friel and Owain
Jones dominant in centre midfield and Gareth Williams and Les Davies
carving out chances from the wings. Moments after the fourth goal
Gareth williams was clear on goal but shot directly at Dawson.
Then Les Davies saw hit cannonball shot fly over for a corner
which Clayton Blackmore delivered but Paul O'Neill headed over.

Half
Time 1-4

The second half was a far quieter affair! But on 48 minutes
City stoked the fires once more
with a fifth goal, this time from the penalty spot. The Welshpool
defence was caught out by a crossfield ball, Paul O'Neill was clearly
pulled back, and Paul Roberts
stepped up to convert the spot kick with a clean strike to the keeper's
right.
Five minutes later it might have been six one but Owain
Jones fired over from just outside the box after Paul Roberts had
worked an opening from the left. On the hour another newcomer Adam
Roscoe made his debut as right winger Gareth Williams limped off after
an impressive first hour. Three minutes later Mark Connolly
replaced Carl Lamb who had run out of steam but could be
more than pleased with his first outing in a blue shirt.
If anything the home side rallied in the second period,
substitute and one time Bangor favourite Ricky Evans came on to add a
touch of class to their midfield. Phil Priestley more than atoned
for his earlier indiscretion with a brilliant double save from Gary
Roberts and then Steve Rogers, both from close range. He also commanded
his area well and took some difficult crosses with ease to take the
pressure off centrebacks Phil Baker and Paul O'Neill when needed.
On 70 minutes Chris Short replaced Owain Jones with
Clayton Blackmore moving into midfield. But Welshpool continued
to press and Phil Priestley made a dramatic one handed
save from Steve Rogers as he tried to add to his first half strike.
With a cruel frost chilling all concerned Adam Roscoe had
a twenty yarder held by Dawson and that was about it. Referee
Richards blew for time to the relief of the frozen spectators who
rushed off to start their cars and blast the heaters on full.
Bangor were as comfortable as the scoreline suggested,
despite a more even second half. The changes had worked and young
striker Carl Lamb in particular looked the part. Two goal Paul
Roberts might have been left to reflect that on Saturday
his cleanest strikes were blocked whilst tonight a scuffed effort found
the back of the net. That's football.

Lose to home to a good
side and supporters go home disappointed. Lose
3-0 at home to mid table mediocrity and its time for the dog to run for
cover as the front door slams. There would have been a few dogs
ducking
for cover and doors slamming as Bangor fans arrived home on Satruday
evening.
Without the suspended Les Davies and unreliable Kev Scott
manager Peter Davenport received a further blow when
Clayton Blackmore injured himself training with Blackburn Rovers
during the week. The resultant reshuffle saw Chris Short at
right back, Phil Baker continue on the left, Peter Hoy on the right
side of midfield with Mark Connolly switching to the left.
Referee Steve Hames stamped his authority on the game in
the opening seven minutes with yellow cards for Jamie Edwards for
diving and Kris Hames for a foul on Peter Hoy. However a clear
elbow by Perry on Tony Gray went unpunished moments later to the
annoyance of the home fans. Bangor should have gone ahead just
inside the quarter hour after a goalmouth scramble from a corner
resulted in desperate defending which denied first Paul Roberts and
then Peter
Hoy, both from around the penalty spot.
City were finding the pace of former Newtown left winger
Jamie Edwards hard to handle and Eifion Jones had cause to race across
on a number of occasions to cover. Cwmbran were awarded a couple
of freekicks as a result of the little winger's pace but realised no
real direct threat.
Cwmbran had to wait until the twentieth minute for their
first site of goal. The burly Jason Welsh seized on a mistake by
Phil Priestley but fired wide of an empty
goal from 25 yards. City responded when Neil Thomas picked up
the ball on the right hand side of midfield, passed to Mark Connolly,
but his shot flew off target. On the half hour Peter Hoy won a
corner on the right. The centre caused havoc in The Crows defence
but they threw themselves in the line of the ball to block successive
efforts from Tony Gray and then Paul Roberts - on the line - before
Wesson grabbed the ball at full stretch.
On 34 minutes Cwmbran carved their first real chance and
scored. As City pushed forward the visitors counter attacked and
created a 4 on 2 opening, as the ball sped left to right winger Simon Heal crashed home a low drive
beyond the despairing Phil Priestley and into the net. In the closing five minutes Mark Connolly
was yellow carded, Owain Jones saw hit goalbound effort blocked,
and finally Tony Gray was clear on goal but fired straight at visiting
keeper Wesson.
As the disconsolate City fans sought half time solace, two
comments aimed at no one in particular drifted
up. "They're quicker to the ball" being the first swiftly
followed by "too many players out of position". Both seemed about
right - although injuries and suspensions can even upset the
millionaires of Chelsea - let alone Bangor City.

Half
Time 0-1

Bangor made a half time change as Paul Friel replaced Eifion
Jones. The line up changed from
4-4-2 to 3-5-2 with Chris Short and Mark Connolly as wingbacks whilst
Phil Baker, Paul O'Neil and Peter Hoy lined up as centrebacks.
The second half opened in similar vein to the first.
Referee Hames yellow carded two visiting players, Mike Fowler for
throwing the ball away, and the goalscorer Heal for a foul on Mark
Connolly. On 55 minutes Tony Gray latched on
to a clever through ball from Neil Thomas, beat the out-rushing Wesson
but then sent his effort wide of an empty goal - in a carbon copy of
the miss by Welsh - from some 25-30 yards. The little striker has
not scored since before Christmas and is visibly low on confidence.
Mark Connolly thought he had levelled
the scoring when he did just about everything right but had reckoned
without the intervention of the dogged Wesson. A sweeping ball
from the right from Paul Roberts found the wingback in space on the
edge of the box, he cut inside to move the ball onto his right foot,
fired goalwards, but saw the shot deflected over. Neil Thomas was
the one City midfielder who seemed capable of taking the game by the
scruff of the neck but never quite managed to do so.
Cwmbran doubled their advantage on 61
minutes in a moment which owed much to farce. Mike Fowler shot goalwards and to the
amazement of just about everyone Phil Priestley misjudged the direction
of the underhit effort and allowed it to creep inside his right post.
Bangor tried to bounce back and Chris Short pressed forward on
the right, fired on target but Wesson conceded the fifth corner of the
afternoon. Phil Baker then though he had narrowed the deficit but
Cwmbran somehow cleared their lines.
On 74 minutes it was 3-0 for Cwmbran.
Kris Thomas capitalised on
some
indecision on the edge of the box to drive home low past Phil
Priestley who seemed flat footed by the direction of the shot.
Three
minutes later Frank Mottram replaced Tony Gray. By now Peter
Hoy was operating as an extra forward and his pace carved an opening
as he chased a long ball down the middle but his effort flew wide.
With
five minutes to go Neil Thomas was yellow carded for a foul on Diamond,
Cwmbran won their first corner, then Owain Jones saw his shot deflected
for City seventh.
With the match drifting into the injury time Peter Hoy was
fouled in the box - penalty claims turned away - but his petulant kick
whilst lying on the ground earned the inevitable - and justifiable -
straight red which brought the curtain down on the sort of afternoon
you would normally wish on Caernarfon! A wholly disappointing
afternoon - a disjointed performance - and one which wasted a chance to
capitalise on other favourable results the evening before.
One final word, credit to the visitors and their band of
noisy supporters who applauded them off the field. It is a long
journey - there and back - but oen the had every right to enjoy.

Another draw for City
on their travels came after the strikers on both sides fired blanks and
watched two defenders score the first half goals.
Sadly though this was a game dominated by some simply
dreadful refereeing by Simon Jones who took centre stage, made a series
of petty and often misguided decisions and sent Les Davies off for just
about nothing. His performance ruined this game although City's
failure to win waa due to some poor finishing and wasted final passes.
With Kevin Scott failing to show Bangor moved the
versatile Phil Baker to leftback and brought Neil Thomas and Paul Friel
into midfield alongside young Owain Jones. Mark
Connolly and Eifion Jones took up seats on the bench. Apart
from the ludicrous Mr Jones the main influence on the match was strong
wind which blew towards the County clubhouse and supported the home
side in the first period. Lee Brown tested Phil Priestley with a
goalbound effort inside the opening five minutes. Bangor
retaliated
as Lee Kendall - a surprisingly subdued and clean mouthed figure -
saved
at the foot of his post as City;s leading goalscorer Paul Roberts
celebrated
his 150th WP appearance for the club with a downward header from Tony
Gray's rightwing cross.
Tony Gray then forced a good save from Kendall after Paul
Roberts won the ball on the right. On 19 minutes Cityhad the lead
against the blustery wind. A foul on Paul Roberts yielded a freekick
which Clayton Blackmore crossed for the marauding Paul
O'Neill to head home from six yards with Kendall opting to
stay on his line. Paul Roberts was fouled and, in the delay that
ensued, Roberts and Phil Baker (for dissent?) were yellow carded.
Bangor looked good value for the lead but ten minutes
later the home side drew level under disappointing circumstances.
A long cross from the right caught Phil Priestley out and he
could only palm the ball to leftback Lee
Hudgell who fired home off the underside of the crossbar,
past the despairing Paul O'Neill's attempted goalline clearance. .As half time drew nearer Phil
Priestley saved well from Rossiter. City were the happier with
the interval whistle as they anticipated the backing of the cold wind
in the second period. Les Davies (for running
into an obstructing defender) Neil Thomas and Lee Brown were yellow
carded just before the whistle.

Half
Time 1-1

Bangor opened brightly and midfielder Neil Thomas won an early
corner with a surging run into the County box. Then Kendall saved
well as Tony Gray fired on target
after a sweeping crossfield ball from Phil Baker on the left. On
the hour Paul Friel was withdrawn in favour of Mark Connolly, momentd
after he was booked by a rampant Mr Jones, with Connolly taking up
his customary right wing berth. Moments later Paul Roberts rising
drive was pushed over the bar by Kendall for a third Bangor corner.
The only real outlet for County was
right winger Nicky Palmer who exploited some space on the right,
but as the match progressed Phil Baker rose to the challenge and
gradually snuffed out the threat. On 61 minutes midfielder
Neil Thomas emphasised his growing influence with a fine run and
crashing
shot which rattled the crossbar and bounced down and out to safety.
The
ball was hardly cleared before Deryn Brace fouled Paul Roberts but
Phil Baker sent the freekick over from twenty yards on the left.
City were now in control, allowing for the odd foray by
Palmer. One such would be break ended abruptly when Phil Baker
robbed the lanky winger and charged on goal but saw his shot held by
Kendall. Then Tony Gray got his head to a
Neil Thomas cross but his effort flew over.
With ten minutes remaining Les Davies was sent off.
After an earlier caution for precious little the big winger was
dismissed for an accidental clash with Phil Catlin whose apparent life
threatening injury soon cleared. The ever unpleasant Colin Loss
was then, rather belatedly, yellow carded for another foul. Owain Jones
fired wildly wide from long distance, Tony Gray shot over from the
right after good work from Neil Thomas, and the ginger midfielder fired
at Kendall from twenty yards.
And then Referee Jones, who abysmal
mismanagement had ruined the match more than the chill wind,
blew his whistle and marched off with a broad grin. Free meal and
expenses to be gathered before cruising home to Swansea, the home
of rank referees.

After a competitive
first half Bangor ran out comfortable winners
against a spirited Llanfair side who played football throughout.
With Kevin Scott, Neil Thomas and Tony Gray unavailable
there were starts for Chris Short and Frank Mottram whilst Ritchie Owen
and Paul Friel came onto the bench. Bangor could have gone ahead
on six minutes when Frank Mottram's shot was palmed away by Ben Heald
who could only watch moments later as Owain Jones headed over.
Mark Connolly saw his shot held
before the hard working Billy Evans went close for Llanfair with a
diving header aimed at a right wing cross.
On 21 minutes Bangor had the lead. Running forward
from leftback, Clayton Blackmore picked out Paul
Roberts as he broke into the visitors box and beat Heald
with a crisp low drive for his twentieth goal of the season.On
the half hour Mark Connolly thought he had doubled the advantage
but Parry cleared off the line after good approach play from Les
Davies. Llanfair were playing their part in a competitive match
and could have levelled the scores when leftback Gavin Owen forced Phil
Priestley to save low at the foot of his lefthand post.
With ten minutes of the half remaining Les Davies again
opened up the visitors defence, squared to
Owain Jones, but his effort flew over the bar. City forced
a couple more corners before the interval, but Llanfair held firm
with Dafydd Evans enjoying a impressive return to Farrar Road after
a long spell with WP rivals Porthmadog.

Half
Time 1-0

The second half was more productive for Bangor but with a little
more consistency amongst the officials it might have been even more so.
After seeing a side footer roll into the side netting, Les Davies doubled City's lead with a
calm tap as Paul O'Neill's header rebounded off the crossbar on 52
minutes. Paul Roberts was immediately withdrawn and replaced by
Ritchie Owen who lined up alongside Frank
Mottram. On 58 minutes it became 3-0 when Les Davies' downward
header was crashed home by Ritchie Owen.
This prompted another change as Phil Baker made way for Paul
Friel, fit again following his hand injury.
On 61 minutes Frank Mottram muscled his way into the box
and was felled for a Bangor penalty. Midfielder Owain Jones calmly converted the spot
kick for his twelth goal of the season. Llanfair replaced the
tiring Declan Friel with Simon Giddings and midfielder Owain Jones came
off for Peter Hoy who took up an unfamiliar role in midfield.
Then Neil Hughes replaced Gareth Roberts. Neil is
remembered for scoring the first ever LoW goal for Bangor but some of
us recall an impressive hatrick on Hyde United's artificial Ewen Fields
surface a year or so earlier.
Llanfair goalkeeper Ben Heald had performed well but none
more so than a superb double save from Ritchie Owen and Paul O'Neill
who both thought they had scored with
close range efforts. The steady stream of corners reached nine
when Heald again did well to push over a clean hit from Les Davies.
There was another change for the visitors as Kevin Hughes replaced
Richard Owen.
On 78 minutes Bangor went 5-0 up
as Ritchie Owen doubled his
personal tally with a well taken effort with his back to goal.
"Pigeon" has waited patiently for a chance to prove himself in
Bangor colours and certainly took his chance this evening. Frank
Mottram went close on a couple of occasions, the referee ignored three
signals for Bangor penalties from his assistant, but there was still a
final goal to come. This time it was Peter
Hoy who beat Heald with a clean strike from a Frank Mottram
pass to cap a 25 minutes cameo in City's midfield alongside Paul Friel.
But a final word of praise for Llanfair who were a credit
to their club. Goalkeeper Ben Heald caught the eye as did
leftback Gavin Owen and the hard working Billy Evans upfront.

City travelled to
Latham Park for a Welsh Premiership fixture with Newtown without the
injured pair Clayton Blackmore and Tony Gray.
Whether either absentee would have made a difference is open to debate
but Bangor certainly missed Clayton’s composure and experience at the
back as the match settled into a long ball pattern with both defences
tending to overhit clearances.
The better chances of the first period fell to Frank
Mottram whose header was punched clear by stand in goalkeeper Ellacot
before Dan Barton twice went close for
The Robins. The clearest opening saw Danny Field – who had
netted twice for Newtown at Farrar Road earlier in the season – balloon
over from close range after a slip by Peter Hoy.
Both defences were clearing the ball with interest,
forwards were chasing and worrying when they
might have preferred a more cultutred service. For Newtown
the ever industrious Dan Barton was giving Paul O'Neill a difficult
evening whilst Paul Roberts and Frank Mottram were working hard to
find space against Mark Allen and formert Rhyl stopper Adrian Moody.
Left winger Les Davies and debutant defender Paul O’Neill
went close for City an end to end session which culiminated in Paul
Roberts shooting wide from close range after he and Neil Thomas had
seen long range efforts miss the target.
The half time whistle saw the 230 strong crowd seek out
hot or cold refreshments and contemplate that there might be better to
come.

Half
Time 0-0

The second half followed the same pattern as Kevin Scott’s
freekick found Paul Roberts but Ellacot saved his clean strike.
On the hour former City defender Mark Allen scrambled the ball
off the line as Owain Jones flicked on a Peter Hoy long throw, but
moments later City were
relieved when young Danny Field failed to hit the target from close
range.
The game promptly switched again as Les Davies led a
charge out of defence and created a three on two. The big winger
passed to Neil Thomas who cut inside to fire left footed but the home
defence again cleared the danger.
With twenty minutes to go Dan Barton went close before
Ellacot pulled off a superb one handed save from Frank Mottram’s twenty
yarder. City looked the more likely to grab a winner as time ran
out, but were frequently frustrated by whistle happy referee Morgan
whose interventions frustrated both sides.
There was a late yellow card for Mark Allen for a second
heavy tackle, this time on Les Davies, a flurry of late substitutions,
but no goals although Mark Connolly saw his goalbound effort cleared
off the line by young rightback Carl Harris.
A word of caution for whoever
organises the referees if they should ever stumble across this
report. The idea of having the same officials in charge
of the same team for two matches in four days is a questionable one.
After officiating at Treflan on Saturday afternoon Mr
Morgan and his comrades looked a trifle jaded at Latham Park.
Even linesmen are human; the road and the miles take their toll.

Bangor were knocked
out of the 2004-05 Welsh Cup by a combination
of poor finishing and bad luck at a greasy Treflan yesterday.
Moments before Scott Ruscoe headed home a late winner for
TNS an overhead kick from Paul Roberts had struck the post. Robbo
might have ended the afternoon
with a hatrick. But more of that later. The only change to the
Bangor line up a straight swap, Mark Connolly back after suspension
to replace the cuptied Neil Thomas. Otherwise Tony Gray continued
alongside leading goalscorer Paul Roberts and Phil Baker likewise in
midfield next to Owain Jones.
TNS started with purpose and dominated possession in the
opening quarter but their one-paced approach play yielded few clear cut
chances. City went close when Mark Connolly sent a raking
crossfield ball to Les Davies who charged goalwards but crashed his
shot off target. After the home side had forced a couple of
corners City should have taken the lead. Owain Jones won the ball
in midfield and set Paul Roberts clear on goal. He steadied
hiimself to shot over the prone figure of Doherty but was stunned as
the Irish keeper pulled off a blinding one handed stop.
Marc Lloyd Williams, once of Bangor, found space in the
"reds" box but Phil Preistley comfortably gathered. Then on 28
mins Tony Gray, who had been injured in a collision with Gerard
Doherty, was replaced by Frank Mottram.
Bangor forced a second corner
of the match which Clayton Blackmore sent deep to Mark Connolly but his
goalbound blast was blocked. The ball span to the right post
where Paul Roberts and Frank Mottram scrambled vainly to try and
convert from close range but had to make do with a corner on the right
which Kev Scott delivered too close Doherty.
Chris King swept the ball upfield but the pacey Peter Hoy
was on hand to tackle Michael Wilde as he ran into the Bangor box.
Hogan then blazed wide from the edge of the box and TNS continued
to enjoy periods of possession without creating too much. Ten
minutes before the interval a twisting turning Paul Roberts drew Steve
Evans and Jimmy Aggrey on
the edge of the TNS box. As he lost his footing Roberts slid
the ball to the right where the lurking Frank Mottram took one touch,
struggled to find firm footing for his left foot whilst blasting a
rising right footer at Doherty which might have skimmed the 'keepers
gloves
on its path over the home crossbar.
As half time drew nearer City
forced corners 4,5 and 6 which ended in Les Davies seeing his
shot blocked and cleared. Owain Jones sent a long range
effort off target and in the dying seconds Marc Lloyd Williams galloped
clear on the left but Peter Hoy switched on the afterburners
and timed his tackle to perfection as the ginger striker lined up
a shot.
Half time, no goals, TNS the greater possession but Bangor
the clearer chances. About fair? Just about.

Half
Time 0-0

Bangor began the second period attacking the social club end.
Big Les Davies created
a half chance for Frank Mottram on the left but his fiercely hit effort
flew across the face of the goal. A seventh Bangor corner
followed, won by Mottram on the left, but Clayton Blackmore saw
Doherty handles confidently despite some strange squealing sounds
from the seated area. Michael Wilde volleyed wide from the right
for TNS.
City again forced the clearer
chances despite occasionally finding themselves without the
ball for periods. A high ball to the left edge of the TNS
box dropped to Les Davies off Paul Roberts, but the winger saw his
left footer shoot a couple of yards wide. On 63 mins TNS made
a telling change as the ineffective John Toner was replaced by left
winger John Lawless. Within three minutes, on 66, the move paid
dividends. Lawless and King created a half chance for Jamie Wood
on the right edge of the Bangor box. His initial effort was
blocked but the rebound invited a pass to Michael
Wilde which the burly striker drove hard and low over Peter
Hoy's outstretched leg and beyond the diving Phil Priestley.
But Bangor refused to lie down and a patient build up
across the midfield involving Phil Baker and Owain Jones supplied
Clayton Blackmore in the right back position. His curling pass
was neatly controlled by Mark Connolly whose cross was quickly
controlled by Les Davies on the left edge of the TNS box. His
calm lay off found Owain Jones who bungled the ball past two defenders
and fell invitingly for Paul Roberts
whose turn and shot took a
slight deflection and beat Doherty from eight yards to the delight of
the blue horde.
Again TNS strung passes together, again Bangor carved out
chances. With less than five
minutes to go a long throw from the right, hurled in by the hard
working Mark Connolly, was flicked on by Owain Jones and found Paul
Roberts who immediately sent an overhead kick goalwards from eight
yards. Unfortunately his effort hit the outside of the right post and
was scrambled clear.
On 90 minutes John Lawless crossed from the left, Marc
Lloyd Williams headed back from the right post to Scott
Ruscoe whose firm downward header beat Phil Priestley from
six yards. There were
a couple of minutes of injury time, but City failed to test Doherty and
the whistle blew. Hard done to? Downhearted? Without
doubt, a mood of what might have been, but that is football.

This was a far more
convincing win than the scorelines suggests
as City won thanks to first half goals from Kevin Scott and Paul
Roberts.
With Mark Connolly suspended new signing Neil Thomas made
his debut on the right with Phil Baker retaining his central midfield
alongside the towering Owain Jones. The impressive form of
centrebacks Eifion Jones and Peter Hoy meant that City's other recent
arrival Paul O'Neill had to be content with a seat on the bench.
There was one late
change as Frank Mottram started alongside Paul Roberts with Tony Gray
delayed by traffic.
Bangor, watched by TNS manager Ken McKenna, took control
from the off as Kevin Scott's long range shot bounced steeply in front
of Nomads keeper Craig Bryan. Paul Roberts shot over from twenty
yards after latching onto a long throw from Scott and Frank Mottram
went close from th esame source. On twelve minutes Mottram headed
off target as the Wrexham based left footer proved a thorn in the
vistors side.
After a couple of corners inthe quarter hour mark, Neil
Thomas showed his class with a brave run down the right which
culminated in a dipping near post cross which Frank Mottram nodded
wide. City were cranking up
the pressure with Owain Jones and Phil Baker dominant in midfield,
allowing Thomas and left winger Les Davies plenty of possession.
A third corner from the right was curled in by Kevin Scott,
half cleared by the Nomads defence but only as far as Clayton Blackmore
whose 25 yard effort clipped the post and was scrambled clear.
On 29 minutes City were awarded a freekick on the edge of
the box. Clayton Blackmore
slid the bal to Kevin Scott
who powerful drive crashed into the back of the net to the delight
of the Farrar End. This capped a fine opening half hour by
the left footer who had been at the heart of most of City's attacking
moves.
It was soon to be 2-0 after
Chris Williams handled the ball from another Bangor corner.
Referee Richards pointed to the spot and up stepped leading
scorer Paul Roberts who scuffed
his effort into the bottom corner for his 15th WP strike of the season.
This was enough for Gareth Owen who was promptly
replaced by Paul Mazzarrella but he could not stem the blue tide
as Phil Baker shot on target but saw his effort deflected for the fifth
and final Bangor corner of the half.

Half
Time 2-0

As the teams took the field for the second period Connahs Quay
made to further substitutions, bringing on Stuart Rain and Darren
Williams for the unimpressive Ben Heath and Andy Griffiths.
It made no real difference as Eifon Jones and Peter Hoy
dealt calmly with the new four
man attack, finding Phil Priestley when necessary and taking
the right option to boom clear on occasion. Five minutes after
the interval Les Davies found Frank Mottram in the six yard area but
his attempt was deflected for a corner which Eifion Jones
headed against the crossbar. Moments later Paul Roberts saw his
shot held by Bryan.
On 52 minutes the visitors won their first corner of the
evening but City were soon back on the attack through Paul Roberts
whose ball to Neil Thomas encouraged an inviting cross but the
Criccieth marksman headed off target. Peter Hoy and Eifion Jones
then combined well to deny Tommy Mutton before Frank Mottram, who had
impressed in build up play, saw the ball run to keeper Bryan as he ran
on goal.
With an hour gone Phil Baker won the ball in midfield and
found Les Davies charging down the left. His cross evaded Neil
Thomas and The Nomads tried to counter but were again denied by Jones
and Hoy. City retaliated with Kevin Scott whose long throw was
fired goalwards by Phil Baker but this time too close to the keeper.
Mazzarrella then went close for the
visitors from 30 yards before Tommy Mutton forced a good save from Phil
Priestley as he was allowed too much space on the right.
Referee Richard then booked
Kevin Scott for diving - which seemed a strange decision -
and then Craig Hutchinson for a wild lunge on Les Davies on the
half way line. Cries of "what's that for ref?" from the visitors
bench were greeted with a chorus of correct answers from City fans.
Neil Thomas then found Frank Mottram on the edge of the Nomads
box but Bryan did well to rush out.
The best move of the second
half saw Kev Scott play a neat one-two with Les Davies. The cross
was cleared by Scott then fired over the resulting half chance.
Big Les then saw his shot held, City forced an 8th corner on 80
minutes, and on 82 mins Tony Gray replaced Frank Mottram. Former
Cefn United striker Darren Williams fired wide on a counter before
Bangor forced their 9th & 10th corners, brought on Chris Short and
Paul O'Neil for Clayton Balckmore and Eifion Jones, and Mr Richards
blew before Shorty had touched the ball!Overall a good performance, deserved
win, but one which could have
been more telling with better finishing.

Bangor moved into
the Semi Final stages of the Premier Cup after defeating Cardiff City
by a single goal at Farrar Road.
A grimacing Lenny Lawrence - watching from the mainstand -
saw his young side dominated for long periods and generally outplayed
by a blues side who took the initiative from the first whistle.
Bangor welcomed Phil Priestley back in goal but his involvement
was largely restricted to handling crosses and hopeful efforts due in
no small part to the dominance of centre back pairing Eifion Jones and
Peter Hoy. Along with Owain Jones and Phil Baker in midfield this
quartert won tackles, headers and competed for the ninety minutes
against a
Bluebirds side which inlcuded five players with first team experience.
Phil Priestley had to be alert in the opening minute as
Byron Anthony aimed a header at the City goal, but the re-signed
stopper immediately sent a huge kick forward which Paul Roberts
controlled and shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box. With
a stiff breeze at their backs Bangor attacked the Farrar End with
purpose and won a corner on the right. Leftback Kevin Scott
trotted over and whipped in a curling cross which was deflected past
his goalkeeper by Byron Anthony
for an unlucky own goal. Own goal or not this early lead gave
City clear sense of purpose.
Phil Baker then fired on target but the apprehensive
Barratt collected comfortably. City might have doubled their
advantage when Paul Roberts lobbed the ball into the path of Mark
Connolly on the right, his first time ball found Tony Gray but Barratt
again held cleanly. City soon forced a second corner and Kevin
Scott went close to repeating the feat but the 'keeper punched out from
virtually under his crossbar. Moments later Les Davies burst into
the box on the left but Rewbury intercepted at the last moment.
Phil Baker was enjoying
his evening in the midfield and might have added his name
to the scoresheet when he caught Rewbury napping on the edge
of the box but his low shot veered wide. The creative Tony
Gray then released Paul Roberts, Barratt ran out and was thankful that
his clearance cannoned into City's leading goalscorer and out
for a goalkick.
Cardiff brought Phil Priestley into action on the half
hour thanks to Toni Koskela but his shot was taken comfortably.
Tony Gray then found the side netting after controlling a clever
diagonal ball from Kevin Scott, then Clayton Blackmore saw his 35 yard
freekick held by Barratt who seemed more comfortable with shots than
crosses. Kift saw his effort skim off Eifion Jones' head but
Priestley held calmly. In the closing minutes Owain Jones and
Tony Gray both headed off target but the half line scoreline remained
one nil.

Half
Time 1-0

The second half did not quite live up to excitement of the first,
in particular in terms of clear cut chances.
A Kevin Scott long throw down the left touchline was
seized on by Les Davies who beat a couple of Cardiff defenders before
crossing near post but Barratt dived low and snuffed out the danger.
With little happening upfront Cardiff replaced Danny
Thomas with Janoul Easter but the lightweight forward struggled to make
much of an impact against the impressive Jones-Hoy partnership.
The visitors were now looking
to impose a frustrating offside trap on proceedings and snared
Paul Roberts as he looked to run on goal. Another visitors
substitution saw Curtis McDonald come on before Phil Priestley
negotiated his only awkward moment of the evening by palming an
inswinging cross
over the bar for a corner.
Rewbury was then yellow
carded for a pull on Tony Gray was City's promising young
striker ran goalwards from the half way line. With fifteen
minutes remaining Bangor thought they had a two goal lead when
Eifion Jones headed home from a Kevin Scott corner. Unhappily the
one thousand plus crowd were silenced when referee Ceri Richards
ruled that Tony Gray had fouled Barratt and awarded a freekick to
the relieved visitors.
With City's defence clearing their lines consistently
Cardiff failed to make any serious inroads into the home penalty area.
With ten minutes left on the watch the impressive Tony Gray won a
corner on the left. Clayton Blackmore's cross was half cleared to
Paul Roberts who crashing volley flew wide of the left post.
Moments later Cardiff attacked down the right but found Kevin
Scott in uncompromsing mood and the move fizzled out.
There was time for a couple more changes as Michael
Parkins replaced Fish and with minutes remaining Frank Mottram came on
for Les Davies whose received a warm ovation from the Bangor crowd.
There were no last minute scares and when referee Richard blew
for the final whistle City were deserved winners and through to the
semi final stage without a goal conceded in the tournament to date.

Despite playing the
closing half hour with ten men City secured the three points against a
hard working Afan Lido side who are involved in a fierce relegation
battle against Llanelli, Airbus and with increasing determination,
Caernarfon Town.
This was scarcely a classic and was punctuated by a two
red and six yellow cards issued by Mr Cavanagh, the majority to the
visitors, although the typically robust Chrid Pridham somehow escaped
The red card shown to midfielder Mark Connolly on 63
minutes followed two yellow cards. Defender Phil Baker lined up
in central midfield in place of the departed Simon Davies whilst
leftback Kevin Scott made a welcome return as did Frank Mottram
alongside Paul Roberts in attack.
With Phil Baker and Owain Jones winning the ball in
midfield City should have created more chances but failed to put the
five man Lido defence under enough pressure with any regularity.
The goal that proved to
be the decider came on 41 minutes. Frank Mottram collected the
ball on the right, raced towards the goalline and crossed into the Lido
goalmouth. Visiting 'keeper Brian Thomas appeared to collide with
one of his defenders and the ball fell invitingly for Mark Connolly who scored
from close range.
This goal came either side of bookings for Piper and
Driscoll as half time approached and the game developed into hard going
on a heavy pitch.

Half
Time 1-0

The second half remained
goalless but was packed with incident and controvesy in the
closing minutes.
Goalscorer Connolly collected the first of his two yellow
cards on 52 minutes for squaring up to a Lido defender, referee
Cavanagh then showed the second for a clear foul which resulted in the
red. The busy Mr
Cavanagh also yellow carded McCreesh on the hour.
With ten minutes remaining Lido defender Roberts was also
red carded for a pull on Paul Roberts as the City striker raced in on
goal. Having decided that the offender was "last man"
referee Cavanagh rightly dismissed Roberts who had been booked on
52 minutes along with Mark Connolly.
On 73 minutes Frank Mottram, who had enjoyed a decent
performance, made way for Tony Gray. The young striker cut in
from the right but failed to make the most of the chance he created.
The on 77 minutes a tiring Kevin Scott made way for Chris Short
who slotted in at left back.
The final twist of the
afternoon came on 87 minutes when Lido thought they won a
penalty for what looked like a trip on Andy Reid by Peter Hoy.
However with the home supporters fearing the worst Mr Cavanagh
suggested that Reid had dived, awarded City a freekick and booked
the offender!

During the week Porthmadog
officials had worked overtime to get
the ground ready for action after the ravages of the flood water which
washed up from the nearby estuary. By 4.20pm
it must have seemed well worthwhile as Viv Williams' side ran
out clear winners against a Bangor side who created a number of
chances but - criticially - defended badly at crucial times.
It all started brightly enough before a somewhat subdued
crowd and twice early chances fell to Clayton Blackmore, but home
'keeper McGuigan saved one and saw the second fly wide. Port's
first challenge came when Phil Baker had to head over for a corner
after Gareth Parry
crossed from the left. Simon Davies then crossed from the left but
McGuigan held with ease before the home side forced a series of corners
but found Richard Acton in sound form. On twenty minutes Owain
Jones latched onto a loose ball in midfield and saw his firm drive held
by the Port 'custodian.
On 23 minutes Porthmadog went ahead. Steve Jones
crossed from the right, Carl Owen flicked on and Ryan
Davies galloped in at the back post to beat Richard Acton
from ten
yards. The Bangor based defender celebrated his second
goal of the season against his home town, to the dismay of the
visiting Citizens and in particular his younger brother Les.
It was the 25th minute
when City forced their first corner after a high hanging
cross from Les Davies left McGuigan injured, then Owain Jones
was hurt in a heavy tackle against goalscorer Davies. Port
forced another corner kick but found Peter Hoy in determined mood.
His clearance was collected by Les Davies whose found Paul
Roberts on the edge of the box but his shot flew over the bar.
Then Tony Gray saw his low effort turned away by McGuigan after
Simon Davies
sent over a freekick from the left.
City then saw Paul Roberts fire over again before Ritchie
Owen made a telling tackle on Les Davies as the big winger charged into
the Port box. With a bit of momentum Bangor now forced
another corner as Gareth Parry, who enjoyed a fine game for the hosts,
stopped Paul Roberts as he ran in on goal. In this closing spell Carl
Owen headed over from Mike Foster's cross, then the cherubic official
Mr Morgan whistled and Bangor left the field with some optimism that
the deficit could be reversed.

Half
Time 1-0

The opening play of the
second period saw Steve Jones slice wide before Ryan Davies cleared off
the line from his brother Les after Peter Hoy's cross had deceived
McGuigan. Paul Roberts then combined with Phil Baker to create an
opening for Tony Gray but the 20 year old fired
wide. Port hit back in what was developing into an end-to-end
affair as Carl Owen just failed to get a telling touch at the near
post to a Gareth Caughter cross.
Caughter exploited space on the left and sent over a cross
which eluded Phil Baker
and fell into the path of the sturdy Mark
Williams whose low drive beat Richard Acton all ends up.
Bangor bounced back to win a freekick as John Glyn Jones was
yellow carded for a foul on Tony Gray, but the kick was sent high over
the bar. Simon Davies crossed from the left but Paul
Roberts' goalbound header was turned away for a seventh corner of the
afternoon which ended in Tony Gray shooting weakly at McGuigan from
point blank range.
On 73 mins it was all over. Mark Williams flicked
on, Richard Acton seemed to gather, but the ball ran free to Carl Owen who slotted home from the
right to complete a dismal afternoon for the subdued blues.
Bangor replaced Tony Gray with Frank Mottram and the change
nearly worked when the Weston Rhyn striker got his
head to a Clayton Blackmore effort but struck the crossbar from
a ninth corner of the afternoon.
There was little to cheer the Bangor camp, but Owain Jones
worked hard throughout and Mark Connolly ploughed up and down the right
but had little luck. The facts will show that, having enjoyed as
many chances as the home side, City failed to make the most of theirs,
and left the field tto noisy critcism from their wind swept supporters.

The sourcer and his
apprentice, Clayton Blackmore and Morgan Jones, cast a spell on The
Canaries at Farrar Road yesterday to the delight of the 600 strong home
fans. Both goals came in the final ten minutes after City had
struggled to establish a pattern of play on a treacherous Farrar Road
surface.
With Phil Baker suspended and Mark Connolly injured City
recalled Peter Hoy alongside Eifion Jones and Gareth Williams in
central midfield. The visitors were without Lee Jones who also
watched from the stands. Caernarfon won the toss and opted to
play into the strong, wet wind which gusted from the Farrar End into
the St Pauls in time honoured tradition.
The opening quarter was reminiscent of a week earlier with
Tony Gray quickly testing David Walsh with a lofted drive from the edge
of the box. Then Paul Roberts chased a long clearance from
Richard Acton - which Phillips inexplicable allowed to bounce - but his
twenty yarder struck the crossbar. Caernarfon responded through
Llanberis lad
Marcus Orlick whose run on goal ended with a shot which flew high
and wide into the Farrar End. City were then slow to react
to a long range freekick from Clayton Blackmore which ran through to
Walsh. Caernarfon's hero from the first match, former Witton
striker Michael Bird, revealed the luck present in his previous success
when his freekick struck the Bangor wall.
The first constructive move
of the match involved Gareth Williams and Simon Davies but Owain Jones'
shot flew over the bar. Then Tony Gray dragged the visitors
defence to him on the right, switched play to Paul Roberts but again
Walsh stretched to save well and concede the first corner of the game.
City quickly forced another corner but some slack marking suddenly saw
the yellow and greens surge forward, four on one,
but the experienced figure of Clayton Blackmore got the better of the
marauding quartet and forced the ball out for a corner on the right.
On 25 minutes the cool headed defender turned provider but Tony
Gray headed over.
Caernarfon attacked once more, enjoying possession against the
wind, and City were grateful for strong headers from Eifion Jones and
Peter Hoy to keep the visitors at arms length. If Bangor had a
first half failing it was underhitting clearances which encouraged the
opposition rather than pinning them back. On the half hour Bird
was replaced by Osian Jones who took over on the left flank with Orlick
moving upfront. City won a freekick which was taken by Clayton
Blackmore before Tony Gray controlled and shot wide from twenty yards.
Bangor then forced three corners in short time after
Clayton Blackmore's shot deflected off former Oswestry defender Hobson.
Paul Roberts chsted the ball down to Owain Jones but his shot was
well saved by Walsh. Moments later the visiting keeper palmed
over a corner from the left which encouraged Kevin Scott to deliver
from the right but Blackmore saw his effort held. In the closing
minutes Gwyn Peters was cautioned for a clear foul on Paul Roberts but
Clayton Blackmore sent the freekick just over the crossbar. Then
Paul Roberts fired well over from the left.

Half
Time 0-0

With the wind at their backs Caernarfon forced an early corner
and Owain Jones saw his effort deflected wide by Phillips. Aaron
Thomas then forced a good save from Richard Acton whose clean handling
was a welcome sight in the difficulty gusty conditions. He also
punched to good effect when called upon. On the hour Gwyn Peters
shot well wide from outside the box after the visitors had forced their
fifth corner of the afternoon.
Les Davies, who
was enjoying a fine tussle with the bulky Evans on the left,
wriggled free of his marker but fired a wild shot into the Farrar
End. Then on 69 minutes the injured Gareth Williams made
way for Fachwen's favourite son Morgan Jones. However he could
only watch as Aaron Thomas ran at the Bangor defence, beat Richard
Acton twice, but saw his goalbound effort blocked by Peter Hoy and then
fire the rebound wide. The noisy visiting fans at the
St Pauls End bellowed for a penalty but none was forthcoming.
On 72 minutes Tony Gray made way for Frank Mottram.
Robbie Wiliams saw his long range shot comfortably held by Acton
before Kevin Scott fired well over from the left. Minutes later
substitute Mottram ran onto a through ball from Les Davies but his
rising effort
had too much lift to trouble Walsh. With twelve minutes remaining Aaron
Thomas made was for the tiny figure of Mark Redshaw who struggled to
make any sort of impact.
Morgan Jones showed more purpose and penetration in his
twenty minute spell than at any time since the Bethesda friendly.
His run down the
right was abruptly ended by Osian Jones who earned a yellow card for
booting the ball away. The freekick was fifteen yards
along the touchline from the corner flag and ideal Simon Davies
territory. His curler deflected off McNulty into the path of Clayton Blackmore who capped a fine
afternoon with a clean drive past Walsh from close range.
The Farrar End crowd stopped shouting for a penalty and
celebrated the goal instead.
The first goal was timed at 81 minutes and two more had
gone when Kevin Scott's throw in found Les Davies on the left wing.
He rolled Evans
and chased to the dead ball line before finding Morgan
Jones with a low cross which the 18 year old turned home
instantly to the delight of the home fans. If the little winger
could have made a bigger impact in twenty minutes it is hard to imagine
how. A good time for a first goal!
Caernarfon struck back purposefully but City defence stood
firm, in particular Eifion
Jones and Peter Hoy who threw their bodies in the way and gave
the visitors little or no space to work in. Having weathered
a storm Bangor might have grabbed a third goal as Morgan Jones ran
past two or three visiting defenders but ran out of luck when Walsh
smothered the ball deep inside the box. In injury time Caernarfon
forced a couple of corners and Bangor were again forced to defend
bravely, but the clean sheet was protected. Referee Morgan blew
his whistle and it was left for the hitherto noisy troupe of
Canaries to walk out quietely and Morgan Jones to enjoy his ovation
from the appreciative home fans.

A boxing referee might
have stopped this at half time to save the home side from further
punishment, but football matches are never won on chances or possession
and Bangor eventually played a high price for failing to conver theirs..
The blues line up was re-inenforced by fullbacks Clayton
Blackmore and Kevin Scott whilst fit-again Tony Gray partnered Paul
Roberts upfront. Gray was very much the central character of the
afternoon as was Canaries 'keeper David Walsh who was outstanding.
Bangor might have gone ahead on five minutes when Les
Davies controlled Simon Davies' cross for Tony Gray to force a good
save
from Walsh. Then Clayton Blackmore, who enjoyed a fine afternoon
on the right, picked up a crossfield ball from Paul Roberts but saw his
long range shot palmed over for a corner. Kevin Scott overhit the
kick but moments later Les Davies drifted onto the edge of the box,
controlled
a high ball, before blasting a trademark left footer wide of the
target.
Tony Gray then went close twice more, both times cutting
in from the left and shooting right footed at Walsh's goal. The
first sped wide of the right post and the second resulted in a great
save from the former Wrexham stopper. On the quarter hour Clayton
Blackmore
deceived Walsh with a long range shot which bounced high and forced a
second
corner. Tony Gray and Walsh soon resumed hostilities when the
little
striker forced a good fingertip save. On 23 minutes a fourth corner saw
Les Davies menace at the back post before Marcus Orlick was relieved to
concede another corner.
On 25 minutes a cleanly hit pass from Mark Connolly found
Paul Roberts on the left, but the Criccieth marksman fired wide when
well placed. The one way traffic halted briefly then as Clayton
Blackmore's backpass hit a divot and avoided Richard Acton's attempted
clearance but City's number one chased back and scrambled the ball out
for a corner.
City moved upfield and Clayton Blackmore once more had
Walsh scrambling to clutch the ball, then Tony Gray was again thwarted
by
the Caernarfon keeper who palmed the ball wide and watched helplessly
as
Paul Roberts crashed the short range opening into the side netting.
When the home side did move forward Phil Baker and Eifion Jones
defended soundly whilst Kevin Scott was also enjoying an impressive
return on the left.
Until the 32nd minute that is, when former Witton striker Michael
Bird caught him on the jaw with an elbow which did not catch referee
Parry's
attention.
Caernarfon had their first chance of note on 35 mins when
Robbie Williams sliced his effort well wide from twenty yards.
But it was soon back to the main even, Gray v Walsh, as City's
number ten saw his clean strike well held before Eifon Jones stepped in
with a good tackle on Lee Jones who had done little thus far. The
half ended with Wayne Phillips conceding a seventh corner with a
panicky goal line clearance
from Paul Roberts after good build up play involving Simon Davies and
Kevin
Scott on the left.
How Bangor were not three or four goals up at half time
was a mystery on David Walsh could solve. But twelve shots on
goal, including six from young striker Gray, alongside seven corners,
had yielded nothing. Christmas? Humbug.

Half
Time 0-0

A half time change
saw Gareth Williams replace Kevin Scott whose jaw had swollen during
the
interval. The wind blowing the home side towards the social club
end
had strengthened and the rain was a touch heavier, but City still
seemed
the better side.
The first opening fell to Phil Baker whose shot was
cleanly held by Walsh after a good left wing run from Gareth Williams.
Then Simon Davies got in behind the home side but his cross
merely exposed
the lack of blue shirts in the box. However the Caernarfon
defence
failed to clear and substitute Gareth Williams lifted a snap shot over
from the edge of the box.
On 55 minutes Bangor finally went ahead. Simon
Davies collected a ball down the left flank off Paul Roberts who
nutmegged Hobson. The former Welsh International crossed to the
back post where Les Davies
continued his fine goalscoring
form with a clean header.
However catastrophe followed on 62 minutes as Phil Baker
was adjudged to have fouled Lee Jones inside the Bangor box, referee
Parry cheered the locals with a double whammy - red card and penalty.
Lee Jones stepped up to
convert the spot kick with his first touch of the game. The rain
and wind strenthened
and the home fans smelt blood. Jones now seemed briefly
revitalised
and struck the upright with a clean drive before Richard Acton made a
fine save at his near post from a close range shot.
Les Davies was now operating upfront in a resuffled Bangor
line up, and he wriggled free of the home defence but saw his shot
cannon off the post and away to safety. On 84 minutes Caernarfon
won a freekick 30 yards out and Michael Bird,
who
previous contribution was to foul Scott, sent a well struck shot over
Richard
Acton into the roof of the Bangor net.
Paul Roberts thought he had salvaged a point with a
powerful run past Hobson and Phillips but he reckoned without the
outstanding Walsh who again conceded a corner to keep his goal intact.
The kick came in but to no avail, a few minutes of injury time
and the painful final
whistle. Daylight robbery? Not entirely as it was dark by
the final whistle, but Bangor deserved far better and were harshly
treated
by what is sometimes known as luck.

Bereft of cover after
a number of withdrawals, Bangor quite simply fell apart at Stebonheath
as a series of schoolboy defensive errors gifted the home side goal
after goal.
With Clayton Blackmore unavailable and Kevin Scott
again absent, this time due to work commitments, City were further
handicapped by an injury to striker Tony Gray as he scored the
equaliser at Carmarthen last weekend. Added to which Morgan Jones
pulled out due to illness on Saturday morning and former Everton youth
star Craig Garside - who
was not meant to be involved - had worked a night shift and could not
be contacted at such short notice.
Peter Davenport had little option but to play Chris Short
and Peter Hoy as fullbacks and recall Frank Mottram alongside Paul
Roberts. It all seemed positive enough as City dominated the
opening quarter and took the lead inside six minutes. Peter Hoy
had already blazed over from the left, when right side midfielder Mark
Connolly crossed left footed for Les Davies
to
nod home at the back post with Llanelli keeper Gareth Williams well
beaten.
Jason Hislop went close for Llanelli but City moved
forward again and Owain Jones danced through the home defence but saw
Williams make a good low save from his cleanly hit shot. On
twenty minutes Frank Mottram backpeddled into the Llanelli box and
headed over Williams but wide of the post. Then for no apparent reason
the wheels well and truly came off as Llanelli struck twice inside a
minute. The first
goal came after City gave the ball away in midfield, breezed past the
blues
defence and set up left winger Craig Williams
who converted confidently from inside the box.
City had scarcely kicked off before Llanelli captain Peter Cheesman found time and
space on the right to beat Richard Acton from a tight angle of an
almost
unbelievable 2-1 lead. Bangor bounced back as Owain Jones chased
goalwards and forced another save from Williams. From the
resulting
corner Peter Hoy shot wide after Chris Short returned the initial
clearance.
Llanelli midfielder Neil Thomas took the eye as the home side
began
to show more composure and - strange as it may sound as they led 2-1 at
the time - get a foothold in the match.
However the Bangor defence now looked creaky to say the
least and Llanelli hit the post before Simon Davies sliced wide from
the edge of the box. Owain Jones continued to set the pace for Bangor
and
his mazey run should have yielded something but referee Thomas waved
away
penalty claims as the "too honest" youngster stayed on his feet when
others
might not have. With five minutes to go to the interval Peter Hoy
sent a long throw into the Llanelli box which Owain Jones headed
downwards but Williams again saved well as the ball looked like
sneaking in at the post.
Both sides has one eye on the half time whistle when Peter Cheesman forced home a third goal
after a good initial save from Richard Acton. If 3-1 was a
little harsh it was a cruel truth that Llanelli took their chances and
Bangor defended with little conviction.

Half
Time 31

The second period, played
in steady rain, still held plenty of hope for Bangor who must have felt
that
they could not have defender worst. However things quickly went
from
bad to worst as Peter Hoy was adjudged to have handled the ball in his
penalty
area, a misdemeanour spotted by the linesman opposite the Jock Stein
bar.
After brief consultation the stocky Paul Thomas brandished a red
card
(timed at 48 mins) and pointed to the penalty spot. There was some
sense
of justice when Richard Acton saved the spot kick but with Bangor down
to
ten men a comeback now seemed pie in the sky.
For the next twenty minutes or so the then men did
well, working hard to contain the eleven and create chances of their
own. Owain Jones led by example with a series of tackles and runs
which kept alive hopes of an unlikely revival. On one run he
passed
a couple of home defenders before finding the hard working Mark
Connolly
on the right but Llanelli scrambled the ball away. Then the tall
midfielder raced down the left and tried to pick out captain Paul
Roberts
with a pullback but Bird intervened and the chance disappeared.
On
the hour Paul Friel replaced Les Davies who was clearly struggling on
the
left.
On 75 minutes Llanelli went 4-1 up as Richard Acton failed
to hold onto a cross and the ball fell invitingly for Martin Rose to prod home from close
range. With five minutes remaining Owain Jones again took the
game to
the reds with run on the right but his shot flashed off target, so too
in the closing minutes his shot was held and finally substitute Paul
Friel
headed off target from six yards. To rub salt in the wounds
Llanelli
snatched a fifth against the run of play as Kyle
Shephard netted with a close range finish.
There was no doubt that Llanelli deserved to win this game
against a Bangor side who threw goals away like confetti, but on
another day it might have been 4-4 had the chances gone in. Full
credit to the Stebonheath side and their new manager Nicky Tucker, the
early season Eddie May inspired disaster side is now a thing of the
past.

Bangor's unbeaten run
continues but this was a more a case of two points dropped on a poor
playing surface at Carmarthen.
With the adjacent car park packed with TV wagons and vans,
the Richmond Park groundsman came up with a unique contigency to give
the playing surface a green hue. This involved sprinkling grass
cuttings on the bald areas, which were effectively both goalmouths and
the centre circle. Neither goalkeeper seemed particularly at ease
with the net result which contributed to the six goals scored, City
boss Peter Davenport was disappointed that his request to the match
officials that this be removed fell on deaf ears.
City began with Chris Short at right back and Clayton
Blackmore on the left after Kevin Scott' non appearance.
Carmarthen featured former Barry Town defender Gary Lloyd at
leftback with the bulky Eston Chiverton in central defence. Lloyd
announced his presence with a first minute foul on City's Mark Connolly
before settling into his customary role of fourth official.
Whether he gets paid for
these extra duties is unclear but his influence on the decisions made
was evident throughout. Carmarthen visibly stole 5-10 yards at
every throw in and close to double that at freekicks.
Bangor might have gone ahead inside two minutes when Tony
Gray won a throw off Chiverton on the left. Simon Davies played a
neat one-two with Les Davies and crossed the back stick where Mark
Connolly headed on target but without the power to trouble Tony
Pennock.
However the home side hit back when the pacey Cotterall crossed
from the left, the ball struck Dodds on this arm and side and rolled
invitingly
for Chris Summers who crashed home
from
eight yards. Goal given.
A minute later Tony Gray took the game to Carmarthen with
a fine turn through two home defenders, referee Ray Ellingham playing a
good advantage. His pass found Les Davies on the left, the big winger
composed himself before crashing a rising drive against the left hand
post with Pennock beaten all ends up. On the quarter hour Tony
Gray controlled the ball but saw his shot flash wide from outside the
box.
City were well on top and an equaliser seemed likely. It
came
on 18 mins when Mark Connolly launched a long high throw from the
right,
close to the corner flag. The towering Owain Jones flicked on
before
the near post for Tony Gray to
prod home unmarked from close range.
Two minutes later City nearly again went close when Chris
Short latched onto a clearance some 30 yards out after Pennock
had punched away a free kick from Simon Davies. Happily for the
former Welsh Semi Professional stopper the ball again sped wide.
On
29 mins Bangor finally took the lead after Kevin Evans misjudged a high
clearance and headed on for Les Davies and Mark Connolly to chase.
With
the the ball drifting to the left Les Davies
took control and steadied himself before driving home past Pennock
despite Chiverton's late lunge.
Moments later Mark Connolly found himself in space 15
yards out but his shot was comfortably held by Pennock. Five minutes
before half time City's leftback Clayton Blackmore was rightly booked
for a late tackle on Mark Dodds who is deployed on the right win by
Carmarthen. With half time looming City had two more good chances
to take a clear advantage. The first saw Pennock save well with
his legs when Gray cut in from the left, then the hard working Martyn
Giles did exeptionally well to slide in and block a powerful strike
from
Les Davies from much the same position.

Half
Time 2-1

If City had dominated the majority of the first half, the second
was a different story.
For no apparent reason City seemed unable to clear the
ball into the opposition half, and when it did arrive Paul Roberts and
Tony Gray struggled to make it stick. On the hour Mark Dodds went
close with a header before on 62 mins the scores were level. Gary
Lloyd took a freekick from the right, some twenty yards from the half
way line. The swerving delivery tempted Richard Acton to punch
which he did effectivley enough, but Smothers was able to return to the
edge of the box, Owain Jones stopped momentarily as a boot arrived in
his face, referee Ellingham adjuded the young midfielder to have ducked
into the bouncing ball.
Eston Chiverton hooked the ball into the box for Chris Summers who had found a space
behind Phil Baker and in front of Peter Hoy to score with ease from ten
yards.
Minutes later Cotterall again caused problems on the left,
Lima directed goalwards and Richard Acton did well to survive a
spiteful bounce off the unpredictable surface. Smothers was
yellow carded for a foul on Owain Jones who has trying to galvanise the
Bangor midfield. The resulting freekick was dropped by Pennock
but Paul Roberts lofted his effort well over.
On 68 mins Carmarthen went ahead after Les Davies
had fouled Kevin Evans on the right. Set piece specialist Gary
Lloyd again delivered a high ball which skimmed Peter Hoy's head before
taking the faintest touch of Martyn Giles
who swept in from the left. His joy was short lived as he remove
his shirt to celebrate and had to be yellow carded. Chris Summers then
had a shot blocked by Peter Hoy who slid in from the right, referee
Ellingham turning aside an ambitious penalty appeal.
Manager Peter Davenport responded by sending on Paul Friel
in place of goalscorer Les Davies, with Simon Davies moving to the left
flank. Then Eifion Jones replaced Chris Short who had endured a
difficult afternoon against the pacey Cotterall. The Irishman
quickly made his presence felt with a number of tackles around the
midfield area.
With seven minutes remaining Bangor drew level and should
have gone on to win the game. Tony Gray chased a long through
ball which bounced behind the Carmarthen centrebacks, left back Lloyd
played him onside. With Giles about to deal with the danger,
Lloyd inexplicably charged into his team mate to leave the grateful Tony Gray with Pennock to beat - which
he duly did - for a calmly taken equaliser. To the joy of the
visiting contingent behind Pennocks' goal? Just a bit, all the
sweeter given the smug Lloyd's involvement.
However Tony Gray promptly limped off to be replaced by
Frank Mottram whilst Carmarthen sent on Aspell for Dodds. Then
Paul Roberts took centre stage with two efforts which might have turned
the game. The first on 90 minutes forced a good save from
Pennock, the resulting corner was cleared as a home defender lay
injured in the box. After a brief stoppage the ball was returned
to Carmarthen by the corner flag, but the throw in typified the
afternoon's proceedings at was taken twice, the second from 15-20 yards
up the pitch.
Finally Paul Roberts again sought a winner, beat the same
two desperate defenders twice on the edge of the box, twisting and
turning, before shooting left footed beyond Pennocks' despairing dive
but against the outside of the post. A draw a fair result,
possibly, although had both teams taken their chances Bangor would have
won something like 8-5!

Aber 'keeper Lewis
Solly scarcely enjoyed his second visit of the season to Farrar Road as
The Seasiders suffered the same result as his previous club Welshpool
had done in August.
City replaced the injured Paul Friel with former
Manchester United midfielder Simon Davies with Les Davies retaining his
left wing berth, the rest of the squad was that which had beaten Airbus
on Saturday. But it was the visitors who were fastest out of the
blocks and newcomer Paul Moore hit the woodwork from 20 yards before
many
supporters had taken their seats. Bangor bounced back through
Kevin
Scott who enjoyed a productive first half on the left, his thirty
yarder
eventually finishing well wide of Solly's goal and crashing into the
Farrar
End.
A foul by Morgan on Tony Gray yielded a freekick which
Clayton Blackmore delivered, Solly flapped and then clutched nervously
as Owain Jones could only shin his goalbound effort. On 15 mins
the visitors went ahead as Aneurin Thomas'
long range freekick deflected past Richard Acton into the net to the
delight of half a dozen noisy Aber fans who opted to taunt Phil Baker
along the lines of "Baker whats the score?"
This served as a wake up call for Bangor who, driven on by
the towering Owain Jones, saw Solly save well from Kevin Scott
with the follow up from Jones deflected wide for a corner. Second
and third corners followed which Les Davies got his head to but failed
to direct on target. Midway through the half Owain Jones charged
through the middle of the visitors midfield but hsi through ball just
evaded Tony Gray.
Mark Connolly produced a neat header over Glyndwr Hughes
on the right and chased goalwards but his firm left footer span off
target. Paul Roberts headed wide from another Clayton Blackmore
freekick. Solly then sliced a clearance which Paul Roberts
gathered
but again missed the target, this time from the right. With
Bangor
fans starting to contemplate the worse, the taunted former Aber
defender
had his moment.
On 33 mins Clayton Blackmore sent a freekick into the Aber
box which Solly fumbled. Owain Jones shot on target little Bari
Morgan cleared off the line but only as far as the lurking Phil Baker who crashed home from six yards.
No more taunting. Five minutes later City had the lead.
Owain Jones was now dominating the middle and his crossfield ball
picked out Paul Roberts on the
right, with only Aneurin Thomas for company. Bangor's top scorer
ran
at - and then flatfooted - the backpeddling defender before beating
Solly with a fierce left footed drive from ten yards.
It should really have been 3-1 at the interval but some
heroic defending and maverick goalkeeping somehow kept out efforts from
mark Connolly and Owain Jones before Kevin Parry whistled for half time.

Half
Time 2-1

The second half opened with a corner for the visitors which Peter
Hoy headed clear, then a
brief stoppage as Phil Baker poleaxed Bari Morgan with a powerful shot
thirty yards out. Les Davies charged down the left, beat Evans
comfortably, but his low cross failed to find a willing boot.
Aber
were defending with courage and conviction and seemed on course to keep
the scoring down.
On 55 mins Mark Connolly rattled the crossbar with a
powerful header from Kevin Scott's cross. City's right sided
midfielder then had to be alert to clear from Moore as the game swung
end to end. By the 67th minute when Owen Thomas replaced the
hapless Evans City had forced a total of six corners and appeared to be
heading for a home win.
But the nagging suspicion that there was a sting in the
tail persisted, and when Paul Roberts' overhead kick flew high over the
bar, the feeling grew. With twenty minutes to go Clayton Blackmore shot
well over after good approach play from Les Davies and Simon Davies on
the left. Referee Parry is seldom out of the action and his
yellow card against Owain Jones on 71 minutes was harsh to say the
least.
Aber then stole the initiative and Clayton Blackmore was
responsibile
for a goalline clearance as Richard Acton failed to deal with a high
centre.
Referee Parry's inconsistency then surfaced as he allowed
Bari Morgan's cynical foul - on top of several others - on
Tony Gray to go unpunished. On 78 mins home fans thought the
match
was won as the lead stretched to 3-1. Simon Davies powered onto
the edge of the box, won a couple of 50-50 challenges before looking up
to find the ever available Owain Jones
who picked his corner and beat Solly with ease from ten yards.
Tony Gray then chased a high ball from Mark Connolly but
Solly got their first. Then calamity. Paul
Moore chased a long ball down the middle, ran to the right
and beat Peter Hoy to drive across Richard Acton and see his effort go
in off the post. Home nerves were jangling. With five mins
to go the visitors sent on Mark Gornall for Gari Lewis. Two
minutes later the referee yellow carded Les Davies for an inoffensive
trip on Hughes.
City tried and failed to kill time by keeping the ball in
the corner, Peter Hoy charged down the right wing to alleviate the
pressure, but lost the ball. However with less than a minute remaining
the long striding Owain Jones raced 50 yards down the right touchline
and boomed over a superb cross which landed at the feel to Tony Gray. The young striker's
control was good and finish even better with Solly again beaten by a
low drive.
A couple of minutes of injury time began with Frank
Mottram replacing Les Davies before Parry got something right with
a loud blast that left the home fans happy and three more points in the
bag. A word for Owain Jones. Outstanding.

A brace of goals from
twenty year old Les Davies led City to a convincing win over The
Planemakers at Farrar Road yesterday.
The team news saw Simon Davies absent with a neck injury
and Clayton Blackmore re-instated at rightback in place of Chris Short
who took a place on the bench. City went for a quartet of twenty
year olds across the midfield which read - right to left - Mark
Connolly, Paul Friel, Owain Jones, and last but not least Les Davies.
After a bright start, which tested Richard Acton, the
visitors were nearly behind on four minutes when Kevin Scott caused
confusion with a long throw from the left which was cleared as to
Clayton Blackmore whose twenty yarder sped just over Paul Whitfield's
crossbar. A minute later his luck ran out. The much
improved Mark Connolly pounced on a loose ball on the right touchline
to fire over a cross which Paul Roberts
headed home emphatically with the "home coming" keeper rooted to the
spot.
City's young midfielder were in command, Owain
Jones and Paul Friel to the fore, and it was no surprise when they
were involved again on ten minutes when the tall youngster doubled the
advantage. Another twenty year old Tony Gray unhinged the 'bus
defence with a run and shot which Whitfield did well to parry for a
corner.
This was cleared to Mark Connolly who fed Clayton Blackmore, his
shot was deflected to Owain Jones
whose
close range finish took his season's tally into double figures.
Whitfield again saved well from Gray before Richard Acton
pulled off a full stretch save from former Connahs Quay fullback Steve
Hopkins' freekick. But on twenty minutes the lead stretched beyond the
visitors. Tony Gray crossed from the right for Les Davies to head home at the back post
with only the Farrar Road faithful for company.
Minutes later thirty three year old former Bangor fullback
Neil Rigby hit the post with a long range freekick and then fired over
from outside the box as City struggled to clear. On the half hour
the commanding Owain Jones ran through the heart of the Airbus defence
but fired over, then Craig Williams, brother of City winger Gareth,
headed over from five yards after a flick on by James McIntosh.
However on 34 minutes Mark Connolly continued his
impressive form with a clean cross from the right which Les Davies nodded in, following good
work
from Owain Jones and a blocked goalbound effort from Paul Roberts.
The
half time whistle could not come soon enough for Rob Lythe as his
beleagured
Airbus side, whilst the blue shirted Bangor side left the field to a
warm
ovation.

Half
Time 4-0

As City took to the field for the second half Frank Mottram came
off the bench to replace Mark Connolly who had limped off ealier, the
re-shuffle saw Tony Gray move to the right wing and Mottram line up
alongside fellow builder Paul Roberts.
Five minutes after the restart Richard Acton saved well
from lanky left winger Richard Smart, then Craig Williams shot
over from 25 yards out. City replied as Frank Mottram span and
fired goalwards from close range but Whitfield saved well. On
57 mins Simon Andrews replaced Quirk who looked out on his feet.
Two
minutes later it was five nil. Kevin Scott took a pass from Paul
Roberts on the left of goal, shot across Whitfield who could only palm
the ball to Frank Mottram who had
anticipated just that and slotted home from the right to mark his
return the side.
On 62 mins a moment in time as 16 year old Ben
Olgilvy replaced Owain Jones who left the field to warm applause.
The
16 year old settled it a leftback with Kevin Scott joining the tireless
Paul Friel in midfield. A minute later Eifion Jones replaced
Clayton Blackmore. City's 16 year old leftpeg was soon into the
action
as Les Davies' clever pass invited a forward run which resulted in a
fine cross which the visitors scrambled away.
On 65 mins the towering Stephen Hughes replaced Craig
Williams, then Phil Baker took a couple of freekicks on the half way
line in front of the City dugout. The first was headed partly
clear by Tina Mutanha but Tony Gray smashed the loose ball over from 20
yards. The second found Les Davies but his hatrick celebrations
were frustrated as his header drifted wide.
With fifteen minutes remaining Danny Andrews came on for
Rigby. City then put together a well crafted move which involved
Ben Olgilvy and ended as Tony Gray firing over the visitors bar.
Simon Andrews then sent a firm header goalwards but Richard Acton
was alert to the danger and conceded a corner as the ball looked to dip
in under the bar. As time ran out Les Davies passed to Frank
Mottram who duly set up Tony Gray but Whitfield saved comfortably.
The final moment of danger for the visitors came into injury time
as Paul Roberts fired
across goal from the right but with no one able to get a telling touch.
Credit to Airbus who kept playing and never resorted to
rough house tactics, and to Richard Acton whose concentration ensured a
clean sheet. But this afternoon belonged to the youngsters, none
more so than two goal Les Davies and 16 year old Ben Olgilvy who must
have enjoyed his debut.

Bangor concluded a
difficult month of fixtures with a trip to Caersws and were grateful to
emerge with a share of the spoils after a lack lustre performance which
spoke volumes for
the absence of Clayton Blackmore. The veteran defender was
suspended after reaching five yellow cards; without him City lacked
composure and guile and were suckered into a high tempo game which
inevitably suited the local experts.
After a fairly indifferent opening quarter hour the game
sprang to life when Owain Jones was forced clear after a deep cross
from the Bluebirds right, then Phil Baker found Owain Jones on the edge
of the box. His header was collected by Paul Roberts who reached the
byline to set up Tony Gray but his near post flick went the wrong
side of the post from two yards.
However on 24 minutes City went ahead. A smart pass
from Mark Connolly opened up the home defence for Owain
Jones to sidestep Howells and place the ball low to
Mulliner's right. The former City 'keeper managed to get a hand
on the shot but the sight of City supporter Matt Shooman leaping first
amongst the Bangor fans behind the goal confirmed that the end result
was a goal!
Mulliner denied City a second with a low acrobatic save
from Andy Thomas after the defender tried to head out for a corner
following a dangerous cross from Mark Connolly on the right. Next Tony
Gray cut in from the right but his shot was blocked on the six yard
line. Caersws took heart from a corner from the left footed Jehu
which was headed on target by Colin Reynolds but to his dismay it hit
the upright and ran to safety.
The half time whistle saw City with the solitary goal
advantage, the dismal weather and disjointed performance doing little
to warm the hearts or hands of the travelling City contingent.
And the ceaseless drizzle wrapped itself around "the rec" like a
head cold....

Half
Time 1-0

Barely had the second half got underway than Caersws drew level
thanks to a wonder strike from Andy Thomas, but they might have fallen
further behind as Tony
Gray tested Mulliner with a firm shot from the right. The half
time replacement for the home side was young Neil Mitchell, and it was
his initial break down the right which Peter Hoy partly stopped, Owain
Jones just about cleared and the tigerish Paul Friel did not quiet
manage
to, which resulted in Andy Thomas
lashing at the ball some 25 yards out in front of goal. Richard
Acton took off but to his astonishment the missile passed him on its
way to the top right hand corner for a fantastic leveller.
On 59 minutes the home side went ahead despite loud
appeals for offside. Inevitably it was Graham
Evans on the left who got the nod from the linesman on the
open side to lob Richard Acton from the edge of the box. Despite
the best efforts of leftback Kevin Scott the ball struck the far post
and rebounded into the net. Manager Peter Davenport was furious
and the entire Bangor bench - even a handful of neutrals - called for
the official to wave his flag but to no avail.
The pacey Tony Gray was causing problems for the home
defence and when Paul Roberts slipped his marker on the half way line
to release the twenty year old the prospects looked good. However
Andy Thomas was again to the fore with a well timed block which
resulted in corner on the right. With about twenty minutes to go
Les Davies replaced Simon Davies who had been yellow carded for
contesting a decision by the linesman.
On 73 minutes Bangor were level. Tony Gray collected
the ball on the right, just infront of the home dugout. With Les
Davies on the penalty spot waiting for the cross Gray switched the ball
to his left foot and bamboozled Geraint Lewis
who headed home emphatically beyond his despairing keeper.
As time ran out young Caersw sub Mitchell threw a blatant
dive to try and win a penalty, then Paul Roberts booted
Mark Howells and earned a yellow card in an incident which provoked
a bit of handbags in front of the home dugout once more. It was
alll quickly under control as Owain Jones amongst the Bangor players
aided Referee Ellingham, and after a late chance for the home side the
whistle went. A draw about right, and without wishing to sound
too
partisan, a point earned despite a very unimpressive performance by the
visitors. Come on Clayton we need you!

With injured pair Phil
Baker and Frank Mottram watching from the stand it would need good
displays from centrebacks Peter Hoy & Eifion Jones plus young
striker Tony Gray if City were to overcome title contenders Rhyl.
That was just what they delivered, with a touch of class added by
the evergreen Clayton Blackmore who was head and shoulders above his
energetic opponents.
City might have stolen the lead inside five minutes when
Clayton Blackmore found Paul Roberts on the edge of the box but his
left footer was turned away for a corner instead. With a noisy
Rhyl contingent behind the St Pauls goal the visitors forced five
corners in a row and pulled the best out of City's tall goalkeeper
Richard Acton and might have resulted in a goal had Lee Hunt reacted to
a ball which fizzed past him at head height.
However midway through the half, with the Farrar End still
filling, Paul Roberts set up Paul Friel but the young midfielder's left
footer was comfortably held by visting keeper Paul Smith. Moments
later indecision in the visitors defence allowed Tony Gray to chase
a Simon Davies through ball but a clean hoof cleared the danger.
Rhyl replied with a long range effort from Gareth Wilson which
dipped and landed on the Bangor 'bar with Richard Acton happy to pounce
on the loose ball seconds later.
On 28 mins City had the lead. Owain Jones saw his
cross from the right cleared by Timmy Edwards but the ball dropped to
Clayton Blackmore whose instant control and precision cross over the
big defender left Paul Roberts
clear to head down and beyond the despairing Smith to the delight of
the home crowd in the Farrar End.
Peter Hoy then had to be alert to clear form
a sixth Rhyl corner but as the game swept end to end Simon Davies
crossed to Paul Roberts but his header was deflected behind for a
Bangor
cornerkick which came to nothing. Rhyl charged to the St Pauls
End but were denied by Clayton Blackmore, City attacked but Tony Gray
was clearly offside when Paul Roberts passed to him, then Hoy cleared
again as Adamson's menacing cross threatened.
Bangor finished strongly with a flurry of corner kicks as
both Owain Jones and Tony Gray went close although Mark Connolly had to
clear as the visitors threatened. Simon Davies latched
onto a goalline header from Brewerton to force a superb save from Smith
who leapt to his left to push the ball over his crossbar. On the
stroke of half time Owain Jones raced through the midfield and fired
goalwards to force a decent save from Smith.

Half
Time 1-0

The opening ten minutes shaped the second half and ultimately
decided the final outcome of the match. It all started normally
enough as Tony Gray shot over from the right and Rhyl cleared another
attack from the left. Then inexplicably Gareth Wilson kicked out
at Paul Friel directly in front of the old clubhouse and after brief
deliberation Brian Lawler showed him the red card.
City had the initiative and went in search of a second
goal. First Kevin Scott ventured forward and shot fiercely from
the left but Smith held cleanly at the near post. Rhyl struck
back and Peter Hoy was on hand to deny Peter Smith as the former
Newtown striker ran in on goal. And then a strange incident which
set in action a chain of events that backfired on the spiteful Limbert.
Peter Smith played the ball in from the right and the former
Colwyn Bay midfielder had to jump to evade a lunge from Peter Hoy.
Referee Lawler awarded the kick as Limbert purposefully stopped
and looked at the Holyhead official who yellow carded the Bangor number
four. Paul Friel stood infront and slapped at the ball Limbert
was holding, waiting to take the free kick. The Rhyl midfielder
reacted by throwing the ball into his
face at close range, to the amusement of Paul Roberts who observed that
the linesman in front of the mainstand had seen the offence. He
duly
summoned Brian Lawler, described the incident, and watched as Limbert
received
the red card due. Rhyl boss John Hulse then re-acted
angrily
and unleashed a verbal volley at the linesman who promptly summoned the
referee who in flashed the red plastic at the disgruntled Lilywhites
manager.
There was then an element of pure farce as Hulse took up
residence
directly behind the visitors dugout, a position he occupied for the
remainder
of the match. By this time Paul Friel had also been cautioned.
The match got underway once more with Paul Roberts
going close after good approach play from Tony Gray and then substitute
Mark Powell - who had replaced winger Kenny Burgess - fired across
City's goal. On 67 mins Les Davies ran on to replace Paul Friel
who had been in the thick of things throughout, with a mandate
to hog the left touchline and stretch the nine men. But on 72
mins it all went horribly wrong as resurgent Rhyl, roared on by their
voiciferous following, equalised as Stuart
Graves controlled a pass from Lee Hunt to fire right footed
past Richard Acton from the right.
Home fans must have feared the worst as Bangor struggled
to cope with the depleted visitors, with Adamson and Edwards to the
fore, and voiced their concerns on 80 mins as Lee Hunt
joined the names in the book for a trip on Les Davies on the half way
line. Peter Smith duly attracted ribald comments and suggestions
as he was replaced by Lee Atherton. A minute later though the
mood
changed as City grabbed what proved to be the crucial winner.
Clayton
Blackmore passed to Mark Connolly on the right. He sent over a
swirling
left footed cross which the lanky Stones tried to head clear but was
then
astonished as the ball span and bounced back over his shoulder and into
the
box. Paul Roberts pounced on the loose ball to the left of goal,
shot to the back post where Tony Gray
emerged to slide the ball home from close range.
Rhyl sent Chris McGinn on for goalscorer Groves but
despite the general feeling of anxiety it was City who carved the late
chances, with the hard working Mark Connolly going close twice, Tony
Gray forcing a good save from Smith and finally Chris Short making an
appearance five minutes into stoppage time in place of Connolly.
At last the whistle blew and City fans celebrated a hard earned
win over the battling visitors who were left to rue their indiscipline
and gamesmanship.

Bangor reached the quarter finals of the Premier
Cup with a comprehensive defeat of dogged Connahs Quay. Manager Peter Davenport solved the
selection dilemma caused by the absence of Frank Mottram (injured) and
Tony Gray (working) by sending young winger Les Davies into the
frontline with Paul Roberts and re-introducing Paul Friel in centre
midfield. In the continued absence of Eifion Jones the
pacey Peter Hoy again partnered Phil Baker.
City had chances to open the scoring in the opening ten minutes.
Kevin Scott sent a long throw into the Nomads
box which ended up in former Bangor keeper Craig Bryan clutching a
goalbound effort from Les Davies. Bryan was busy as Paul Roberts,
who looked vaguely out of sorts all evening, forced a good save which
Mark Connolly gathered and slipped back to Les Davies but the young
keeper held his effort. City goalkeeper Richard Acton was then
called into action when a deep cross from Jon Kenworthy on the right
was handled confidently.
Owain Jones saw his header held by Bryan on the quarter
hour mark before the visitors enjoyed their best period of the game.
With Gareth Owen and Craig Hutchinson effective
in midfield, and Tommy Mutton running to good effect, Phil Baker and
Peter Hoy were pressed into action more than their goalkeeper. On
the half hour a clearance by Acton found Les Davies whose flick set
Paul Roberts goalwards but Horan capitalised on his momentary
indecision
and the chance was gone.
Moments later a real escape for City as former Cefn United
striker Darren Williams launched himself at a header which bounced down
and then up and over the empty goal. Richard Acton was then
forced into a good save at full stretch to deny Kenworthy before City
finally took the lead. On 32 mins a late challenge by George
Horan on Paul Roberts was penalised by referee Lawler with a freekick
30 yards out in front of goal. Clayton Blackmore's free kick was
punched out by Bryan but Paul Friel prodded the ball back into the box
and Owain Jones swivelled to find
the net from ten yards. On 34 mins with the visitors defence
clearly unsettled a determined run by Mark
Connolly who chased a through ball from Paul Roberts forced
a
mistake from Bryan which saw the ball apparently running out for a
corner.
The young midfielder chased, caught its progress on the goalline
and calmly walked the ball into the net for a 2-0 lead.
The niggly Ben Heath then struck a firm response for the
visitors but City came back with a move involving the impressive Kevin
Scott on the left. He in turn supplied Paul Friel, on to Simon
Davies on the left, his first time centre - outside of the foot - was
flicked by Owain Jones but the spin on the delivery beat the right hand
post with Bryan reduced to the role of spectator.

Half
Time 2-0

Nomads
manager Nev Powell withdrew rightback Holmes in favour of midfielder
Andy Griffiths but his first involvement was to watch a superb long
clearance by Richard Acton which encouraged Mark Connolly to race down
the right but - with a rush of blood - the youngster shot over.
Midfielder Craig Hutchinson earned his customary yellow card on
55 mins for another foul before Kevin Scott sent a hard and low
freekick which Les Davies met but lifted over. Enraged by a
series of niggly fouls from the lightweight Health, the Maesgeirchen
winger wound himself up for an impressive second half performance.
If he one could turn up at every City game to annoy Big Les he
would be very welcome!
On 55 mins substitute Griffiths opted to foul Les Davies
after a brilliant turn on the half way line left three
Nomads reeling in his wake. On the hour both sides made changes.
Connahs Quay introduced the menacing Stuart Rain for Hutchinson
whilst Peter Davenport withdrew a tiring Paul Friel for recent recruit
Craig Garside. The former Everton youngster quickly settled in
alongside Owain Jones in midfield as Bangor continued to attack, Mark
Connolly shooting at goal after Kevin Scott and then Simon Davies had
switched play from the right.
On the hour mark City settled the tie from their fourth
corner of the evening. Clayton Blackmore's impeccable delivery
created uncertainty, Bryan flapped as Les Davies headed onto Owain Jones at the back post for a
simple header home. Minutes later Paul Roberts raced clear but
dragged the shot wide of the righthand post. The petty Heath then
threw the ball straight at Les Davies who stood to block a throw in,
referee Lawler contented himself with a warning that he might face an
uncomfortable day back at school in the morning.
Kenworthy shot wide, Jellicoe was booked for yet another
foul on Les Davies who was now running on a full head of steam, and
George Horan left the field for stitched to a facial wound. Les
Davies then span past two bemused Nomads by the left hand corner flag
to fire in a powerful cross which nearly brought Owain Jones his
hatrick but not quite. With fifteen minutes remaining Mark
Connolly headed over after a telling cross from Blackmore then former
Wrexham midfielder Gareth Owen became the fifth name in the book
following
a dim challenge on Connolly.
With ten minutes to go Chris Short replaced Owain Jones,
City forced a couple of corners and the promising Garside ran through
the heart of the Nomads defence, the ball ran to Paul Roberts via Les
Davies but his shot sped wide. A seventh corner on the
left won by Peter Hoy after a buckaneering run and shot reminscent of
the late Emlyn Hughes, an eighth but to no avail - then referee Lawler
blew to confirm a convincing win which heralds a home tie in the
quarter
final stages.

City progressed to the Welsh
Cup Fourth Round on an autumnal afternoon in the Vale of Glamorgan to
the disappointment of a sizeabe crowd who had evdiently hoped to
witness an upset.
The compact Murch Community Centre ground was packed with
travelling City supporters, home fans, Cardiff followers intent on
baiting Bangor's rightback and a good number of ground hoppers
from as far afield as Leicester and Wolverhampton. Despite a
good deal of possession in the opening quarter Bangor failed to trouble
home goalkeeper Billy Clarke who must rank as one the shortest
custodian's to face Cty in recent years. Kevin Scott, the
normally reliable Paul Roberts and the hard working Peter Hoy all sent
efforts off target early on. Paul Roberts caused uncertainty in
the home defence with a strong run from the half way line but Tony Gray
also failed to find the target from outside the box.
The against the run of play Dinas Powys went ahead on 26 minutes
when Jamie Dix saw his shot
deflected off Peter Hoy and beyond Richard Acton. The crowd rose to
acclaim the goal with the whiff of upset in the air but within a minute
Bangor were level. A high lofted header from Paul Roberts fell on top of the
diminutive Clarke, and with Les Davies towering above him the ball
ended up in the goal. Initial suggestions that Les Davies go the
final touch were played down by the big winger so the goal legally
belongs to City's leading scorer.
No sooner the kick off than, on 29 minutes, Bangor were ahead.
A cross from Les Davies on the left led to a Mark Connolly header which, for no
apparent reason, Clarke seemed to watch bounce past him into the net!
The upset mongers were silenced and the travelling blue
contingent markedly happier!
The outstanding player for the home side was Nathan Hosgood
whose running and close control were creating problems for the
visitors. For City the defensive pairing of Peter Hoy and Phil
Baker stood firm with the former Tranmere man looking calm and composed
at all times. The final act of the first hald was
a handball decision against Paul Roberts in the attacking third and
a header from Les Davies which flew off target.

Half
Time 1-2

Two
early incident in the second period fortold of the forty five minutes
to come. Paul Roberts ran down the right wing before crossing
into the path of
Owain Jones who failed to make contact, then Richard Acton had to
be alert to save at the feet of the inrushing Jamie Dix who was a thorn
in the side throughout.
Tony Gray forced a good save from Clarke with a cleanly hit
twenty yarder before the new striker increased City's lead on the hour.
Simon Davies gathered the ball close to the right hand corner
flag, ran along the deadlball line before crossing to Tony Gray who headed home firmly from
eight yards. There then followed a break in play when Phil Baker
received treatment for a nose injury which forced him off the pitch.
With around 20 minutes remaining Chris Short replaced Les Davies
as Dinas Powys forced a couple of corners. Short emerged with the
ball on the right, charged forward before finding Owain Jones whose
cleanly hit shot was held by Clarke who overall had played quite well.
With fifteen minutes to go Frank Mottram came on for Paul Roberts
and he played his part in a goal mouth melee which saw a close range
shot from goalscorer Gary blocked.
On 80 minutes Dinas Powys reduced the deficit with a goal from
substitute Spencer Lamb despite
Richard Acton's efforts to stop the ball from crossing the line at
close quarters. Owain Jones went close for City again in the
closing stages, Morgan Jones replaced Simon Davies, and Ray Ellingham
blew for time with a 3-2 scoreline enough to take City through but
see heads held high amongst the Dinas Powys camp.
This was never a classic but City did enough to win and now look
forward to a date with TNS in February in the last sixteen.

Two of the top sides in the
Welsh Premiership went head to head at Treflan in a game which had just
about everything, including perhaps a fair outcome as one time Bangor
favourite Marc Lloyd Williams missed a late penalty.
Pre match news - and a cursory glance around
the pitch - confirmed that City's injured quartet were passed fit,
although Paul Friel watched from the dugout whilst Eifion Jones shared
news of his x-ray with City supporters around the ground. The
home side were without the left footed pair Nicky Ward and John Lawless
for a match controlled by Edinburgh official Callum Murray whose
presence,
monitored by Roger Gifford, heralded a ground breaking exchange
agreement
between the FAW and SFA.
The opening exchanges saw both side force corners, big Steve
Evans fail to convert a Martin Naylor cross and Owain
Jones head wide for City. On twenty minutes a second Bangor
corner came after Les Davies chased a deft pass from Simon Davies,
enjoying his involvement in centre midfield. The kick was taken
by Clayton Blackmore who moments later saw his shot blocked before Tony
Gray span past Steve Evans to shoot low and hard at the near post but
Doherty saved well.
When TNS threatened the new centreback pairing of Eifon Jones
and Phil Baker stood firm, whilst Kevin Scott worked hard to fill the
gap left by the unavailable Gareth Evans. Phil Baker had to work
overtime to deny Lloyd Williams before a City went ahead with a
fantastic goal. Richard Acton called for and gathered a high ball
in his box before bowling the ball out to Les Davies on the left.
His pass upfield found Tony Gray
who unleashed a swerving dipping thunderbolt which cleared the
despairing Doherty and crashed into the net for his second goal for
City on 27
minutes.
The response from Ken McKenna's side was almost immediate.
A deep cross from the right found Jamie Wood who steered the ball
in near post for the lurking Marc Lloyd
Williams to head home firmly from five yards out despite the
best efforts of Peter Hoy, this on 33 mins. City forced a third
corner of the afternoon as Paul Roberts saw his effort blocked, then
Les Davies' fifteen yarder lacked its usual venom. Tony Gray also
fired wide, then five minutes before the interval Kevin Scott saw his
freekick held by Doherty who was defying the nerve jangling barracking
of the noisy City gang.
As time ran out Mike Wilde forced a neat take from Richard Acton
who seems to have made the goalkeeper's jersey his own, then both Chris
King and Marc Lloyd Williams shot off target for the Greens.

Half
Time 1-1

Would the full timers make their better fitness pay? Would Jiws
strike again, or Frank Mottram come off the bench to stun the Saints?
The answers gradually unfolded as TNS wasted an early corner
before Doherty had to scramble to save from Clayton Blackmore.
Then Richard Acton showed good decision making to punch clear
before Marc Lloyd Williams headed over from six yards after a good
cross from Tommy Holmes.
On 64 mins the first substitute of the afternoon saw the much
vaunted Beck withdrawn in favour of Barry Hogan. Then Tony Gray
did well to gather the ball on the right but Mark Connolly headed over
from the edge of the six yards area. Saints striker Mike Wilde
thought he had scored but Peter Hoy cleared, John Toner replaced Martin
Naylor, and on 74 mins Frank Mottram strode on in
place of Les Davies who had done well on his return to the City side.
With around a quarter of an hour remaining City won a corner but
might have gained a more worthwhile reward. Paul Roberts turned
and ran at the home defence with Tony Gray for company on the left,
before cutting across Steve Evans to shoot hard and low at Doherty's
goal. The 'keeper saved well but the loose ball ran out
tantalisingly close to Frank Mottram but the towering Aggrey stretched
to prod the ball out of play. TNS struck back but Phil Baker
again put the shackles on Lloyd Williams before disaster struck on 86
mins.
TNS won a corner on their left which - inexplicably - Peter Hoy
opted to punch clear. Referee Murray consulted with his assistant
before confirming the penalty kick which was quickly gathered by Lloyd
Williams. The ginger striker stepped up and placed his kick to
the 'keeper's right but he reckoned without the intervention of Richard
Acton who guessed right and saved comfortably before punching the air
in delight.
And that was about it, or not quite. There was still time
for Frank Mottram to gallop beyond the TNS defence but slice his shot.
Then a clearance at the other end by Kevin Scott as the Scottish
official blew for time. Honours evens, points shared, and the
general consensus in the club afterwards was
a fair outcome from both camps.

This was a commanding
performance from a Bangor side who took the three points thanks to
another impressive midfield display from Simon Davies and his youthful
team mates. The former Manchester United left footer was involved
in two of the three goals and is gradually regaining the sort of form
which earned rave reviews two seasons ago.
The only change to the line up which
was frustrated by Haverfordwest the previous week was the return
of Clayton Blackmore for Chris Short at right back. Morgan
Jones dropped from the forteen.
City could have taken the lead in the opening minute when Paul
Roberts saw his shot blocked at close range when the goal beckoned.
But when the lead did come it owed much to the industry of new
striker Tony Gray and a touch of luck. Gray fought for the ball
on the right and helped Owain Jones gain possession which the towering
youngster played simply into the striker's run. Tony Gray ran to the right before firing
the ball against the shins of the Cwmbran defender and into the net
from 20 yards out on the right on eight minutes, for his first goal for
Bangor.
The lead could have been doubled when Mark
Connolly launched himself at a deep Phil Baker freekick from the
left but the all action midfielder saw his close range effort cannon
wide with Wesson beaten. There was time for referee Morgan
to show the yellow card to Connolly before City trooped off with the
feeling that the level of possession should have yielded a better lead.

Half
Time 0-1

The first action of the second period was a double substitution
by Crows manager Brian Coyne who sent on Hanbury and Plant for Mohammed
and Diamond in the 51st minute. Then on 64 mins referee Morgan
showed the yellow card to Clayton Blackmore.
City continued to dominate and eventually clinched the
match on 77 minutes in a goal which began with a stray clearance from
goalkeeper Wesson. A Bangor attack had fizzled out when Wesson's
attempted throw out was picked up by Simon Davies on the left, some 30
yards from goal. Davies sent a perfectly judged chip over the
keeper but Cwmbran defender James saved the situation with a desperate
header against the crossbar, but unhappily for him
the ball dropped for Paul Roberts
to gleefully dispatched his eleventh Welsh Premiership goal of the
season.
With two minutes remaining Peter Davenport withdrew Paul
Roberts and his strike partner Tony Gray with Les
Davies and Peter Hoy who enjoyed hsi foray in the frontline for what
turned out to be five minutes. On 90 mins Simon Davies sent
over a corner from the right which Wesson punched wildly straight up
in the air. Peter Hoy headed down directly in front of goal,
perhaps three yards out, for Mark Connolly
to cap another hard working performance with a close range finish.
A mention for the Bangor defence who, since the arrival of
Richard Acton and pairing of Eifion Jones with
Phil Baker, have conceded one goal in their last five games. This
compared with fifteen in the previous five. Well done all round.

There is something about a
flawed genius that directs us towards the flaw and not the genius.
Journalists, leaning back in their swivel chairs, smile to
themselves as they focus on the deviance and overlook the obvious
talent. So for a break with tradition lets cut to the chase.
Visiting Haverfordwest County goalkeeper Lee Kendall gave a
tremendous display of athletic, near acrobatic, shot stopping which
earned his side a point they just about deserved but could never really
have expected to have left Farrar Road with yesterday. This
should not infer that Bangor overwhelmed the visitors, they did not,
but Kendall made a string of clean saves which kept his side in
contention at critical times.
It was strange afternoon from the offset with the wind blowing
from the East, from the St Pauls End rather than into it as is the
norm. Playing into this wind City opened up with Paul Roberts
heading off target and then winning a corner on the left as Deryn Brace
cut out a cross intended for right side midfielder Mark Connolly.
But this should not infer that City held sway in the early stages
where the dogged visitors worked hard
in midfield, guided by the guile of former Barry Town pair of Colin
Loss
and Darren Ryan. Home supporters voiced their unease.
On the quarter hour mark Richard Acton was injured in a
collision with County centreback Wyn Thomas but was able to continue
following treatment. But five minutes later he could only stand and
watch as the visitors took the lead. A freekick on the right
-awarded for handball against Simon Davies
- was collected oin the edge of the box by Darren
Ryan whose well struck effort flew over Richard Acton and
into the roof of the City net with the home defence seemingly
motionless.
The remainder of the first half saw little to inspire,
although young Tony Gray won corners and tested Kendall with his clean
shooting and willingness to run with the
ball. With minutes to go before the interval Gray latched onto
an incisive pass from Paul Roberts to race goalwards and shoot from
twenty yards but Kendall saved cleanly. As time ran out the
former
Newton frontman repeatd the strike but Kendall was again on hand.
Then with time up and the old sliding bars in place alongside the
tunnel, Paul Roberts controlled a curling left footed through ball from
Gareth
Evans to run at the visitors goal before unleashing a trademark strike
which Kendal saved acrobatically, this time at the expense of a corner
which came to nought.
So honours about even in the first period and the emerging
contribution of Lee Kendall one of the half time talking points.

Half
Time 0-1

The second half saw City attacking the Farrar End with the with
at their backs. Barely had the whistle blown than Simon Davies
gathered the ball on the left to find Paul
Roberts on the edge of the box to scuff the ball low into
the 'keepers right corner. The relief around Farrar Road was
audible, the early reply just what the game needed.
But County did not lie down and Richard Acton made a good
save from Tim Hicks who clean strike threatened on 55 minutes. On
the hour the ever alert Eifion Jones did well to make up ground on the
right to tackle Dean Rossiter at the expense of a corner from which
substitute Niko Algieri headed wide at the back post. City won a
fifth corner a minute later but
Kendall held the cross cleanly.
Referee Hames used his yellow card for the first time on
70 mins as Wyn Thomas tripped Paul Roberts, then Eifion Jones again
pulled off a good tackle as County looked to break upfield. With
Bangor pushing forward the ball clearly struck player manager Deryn
Brace on the hand as he stood the last man position on the edge of the
visitors box. Mr Hames waved play on, perhaps unsighted or
unconvinved of any intent. If the official had a weakness, other
than missing an elbow in the face of Mark Connolly delivered by Colin
Loss, it was his reluctance to deal with blatant timewasting which
seems a way of life for County, judging by previous match reports.
Simon Davies, operating from the left, passed infield to
Tony Gray but his shot was saved by County's custodian before City
forced a couple of corners the first of which pulled a "Gordon Banks"
style low one handed save as Eifion Jones' downwards header looked a
certain goal. Paul Friel was then yellow carded for a trip on the
Bangor leftwing. Time was running out as Tony Gray charged
forwards but failed to notice Paul Roberts who was well placed.
Minutes later Paul Roberts took a freekick from directly infront
of the County goal but the defensive wall stood firm, then City's top
scorer ran clear on the right and forced another good low
save from Kendall but the decision was goalkick.
Mark Connolly was shown a yellow card for a foul on the
tricky Ryan before Les Davies made an 88th
minute appearance as a replacement for a worn out Paul Friel.
Former Llanelli man Nicky Palmer went close for the visitors, big
Les caused problems on the left, Eifion Jones fired over before
an eigthth and final Bangor corner was won and largely wasted.
Scores - and points - even but the honours to Lee Kendall for a
tremendous display.

A blistering open twenty five minutes sent City
through to the Second Round of the BBC Sponsored Premier Cup to the
delight of the travelling fans and those watching live on BBC 2 Wales.
With Gareth Evans and Frank Mottram still injured Bangor
introduced recent arrivals Kevin Scott and Tony Gray who both enjoyed
fine debuts. City might have taken
a lead in the first minute as an early corner from Clayton Blackmore
was headed goalwards by Paul Roberts, the ball was cleared to Kevin
Scott but his 25 yard shot landed on the roof of the Newtown net.
There was better news on four minutes
though as Bangor took the lead. Tony Gray ran at the home
defence, found Mark Connolly on the right and his left foot centre
was headed down by Paul Roberts for the unmarked Simon
Davies to sidefoot home from close range. With Paul
Friel and centre mid partner Owain Jones in dominant form City were
soon in complete command. A second corner drifted across by
Clayton Blackmore was headed on target by Paul Roberts but Robins
'keeper Paul Edwards palmed the ball to Owain
Jones who bungled home despite having his shirt pulled. City pushed
forward and forced a series of corners which began with a poor
clearance from a Kevin Scott long throw and ended in a third goal
which effectively killed the match. Ironically this came
from a first corner kick to Newtown which was easily dealt with by the
blues defence. Simon Davies sent a forty yard pass to Paul
Roberts on the half way line, beneath the mainstand. His infield
ball was pounced on by Paul Friel
whose one two with newcomer Tony Gray involved a neat lay off which
enabled
the midfielder to gallop clear before converting confidently passed the
despairing Edwards.
Twenty four minutes gone and 3-0 up, Bangor had to ease up or go
for ten. Paul Roberts fired over following a good pass from Gray
before City keeper Richard Acton made a low save at his near post from
Sam Bowen but referee Whitby ruled goalkick. Young striker Danny
Field also forced a save from Bangor's
new custodian but time ran out without a serious dent to the visitors
ambitions.

Half
Time 0-3

The
opening action of the second half saw Paul Roberts fire over as City's
midfield dropped deeper to contain rather than attack. Friel and
Jones were enjoying the aerial supremacy of Phil Baker and Eifion Jones
behind them and the contrasting wide play of Mark Connolly and Simon
Davies. The 19 year old Connolly dug deep, ran and tackled hard,
but still found time for telling passes and movement off the ball.
On the left Davies, a hint of the old swagger returning, was deft
and incisive in equal measure. If Newtown harboured hopes of a
revival manager Roger Preece must have been frustrated by the wayward
clearances from Moon and Moody who squandered possession far too often.
On 58 mins Newtown brought on Dan Barton for young Field but in
fairness he made little impression other an on Clayton Blackmore who
felt the force of a challenge on the half way line. Kevin Scott
launched a high swirling ball which found Paul Roberts unmarked in the
Robins box but his header was comfortably held. Newtown won a
fourth corner before Tony Gray chased down the right to set up Paul
Roberts who made space for a
shot but again saw Edwards in the right place. With some fifteen
minutes remaining centre back Moon fired on target but Richard Acton
ensured his third successive free kick with a clean low save.
On 79 mins, moments after Martin Giles had replaced Steve
Futcher, Bangor struck again. Tony Gray
was again involved on the right before picking out Simon Davies
on the edge of the Newtown box. He shimmied past one defender and
slipped the ball behind another for Paul
Roberts to gather and step beyond the diving Edwards
before slotting calmly into the empty net.
There followed a batch of substitutions which saw Clayton
Blackmore replaced by Chris Short, and minutes later Eifion Jones and
Tony Gray make way for Peter Hoy and Les Davies. City seemed to
take strength from the changes and Paul Roberts fired wide with Les
Davies for company in the middle before the same combination linked up
again but the big winger side footed his shot at Edwards. The
final action owed something to farce as a nicely flighted ball from
Simon Davies dropped to
Owain Jones five yards out to the right, but he miskicked before a
header from workaholic Mark Connolly was hacked off the line. And
that was it, a job well done, impressive displays all round but in
particular Tony Gray on debut and the whole midfield.

This one sided but keenly
contested cup tie ended in a comfortable win for City who never quite
came to terms with their windswept surroundings.
A blustery wind blowing end to end from the west dominated
proceedings with City being driven on in
the first period. Early chances came and went as Bangor
forced a couple of corners, Les Davies fired over from the edge
of the box and Clayton Blackmore repeated the feat minutes later after
City's 19 year old winger - playing up front alongside Paul
Roberts - had his effort blocked.
Richard Acton was brought into action on eight minutes as
Bleddyn Jones' freekick was deflected off the Bangor wall with home
fans appealing for handball. Moments later City won a third
corner which was cleared as far as Clayton Blackmore whose inch perfect
delivery found Mark Connolly but the industrious midfielder headed wide
from six yards.
A fourth corner on 13mins was to prove unlucky for Pen.
The kick came after the busy Tharme palmed over a much better
header from Connolly which seemed destined for the net. From the
corner Pen scrambled the ball clear to Clayton
Blackmore but the ice
cool veteran sent a dipping cross shot over Tharme and into the
net, right to left, to open the scoring.
With the wind at their backs Bangor were in total control and
goalkeeper Jamie Tharme was working overtime to keep out Morgan Jones,
Clayton Blackmore and then Mark Connolly. Paul Roberts then
combined with Les Davies but sent his shot wide, Tharme saved well from
Les Davies' clean strike from a Morgan Jones pullback. Tharme
then saved well from Les Davies on the half hour who in turn combined
well with Mark Connolly to set up Morgan Jones but the little winger
had shis effort held.
Referee Harms then made a shocking decision as Paul Roberts
charged clear and was clearly pulled down by the last man defender.
With a freekick awarded - which acknowledged the offence - the
Prestatyn official failed to produce any colour card. From the
kick Mark Connolly forced another good save from the Pheonix 'keeper,
Bangor forced their 6th & 7th corners, with Mark Connolly again
heading cleanly but to no avail. As time
ran out the home side won a second corner of their own but failed to
trouble Richard Acton.

Half
Time 0-1

From
the restart City played far more controlled football into the wind,
with Eifion Jones and Phil Baker winning their headers and Paul Roberts
showing better control upfront. City's top scorer nearly added to
his tally in the opening minutes of the second period but Tharme again
saved well, and moments later raced out the edge of his box to clutch
the ball at Paul Roberts' feet with the defence trailing.
Mr Harms at last showed a modicum of
sense with a long overdue yellow card for No 7 John Crowl whose
persistent fouling would have attracted the attention of a more
diligent official. Ten minutes into the second half Paul Roberts
controlled a good pass from Les Davies, but span and fired over from
the edge of the box. A ninth corner arrived on the hour, courtesy
of the hard working Les Davies, but Eifion Jones headed over.
Three more flag kicks followed with the Llanrug centrehalf
finally heading over once more to end the sequence.
With twenty five minutes remaining a
13th corner saw Pen scramble the ball off the line to deny Les
Davies. On 72 mins it was 2-0 as Eifion Jones saw his header
hit the bar but Mark Connolly
reacted first and rammed the ball home from close range for his first
goal of the season. Crowl then showed a more creative side
to his game by hitting a 40 yard volley which just skimmed the Bangor
bar on its way out for a goalkick.
On 79 mins manager Peter Davenport replaced Morgan Jones and
Mark Connolly with substitutes Chris Short and Gary Parr, a move which
meant Clayton Blackmore moved into midfield alongside mister perpetual
motion Paul Friel. The match was drifting towards the now inevitable
conclusion when the luckless Gareth Evans left the field (to be
replaced by Peter Hoy) with blood seeping from a headwound which saw
him dash off to Bodelwyddan hospital at the final whistle. So a
win at a price - the leftback is unlikely to feature at Newtown on
Tuesday - but progress into the second round of the
Welsh Cup.
A word of credit for the amazing Jamie Tharme who was Man of the
Match for Pen, and centre forward
Peter Williams who battled wholeheartedly throughout for little
reward.

Bangor eased to a 4-0 win at
Plaskynaston as the hosts ended the match with ten men with player
manager Alan Morgan watching from the sidelines.
The presence in the City goal of
former Altrincham and TNS goalkeeper Richard Acton certainly
settled the defence which saw Eifon Jones re-instated alongside
Phil Baker. In midfield there was also a warm welcome back to
Paul Frield as he returned via a new term at Bangor University.
City set out their marker in the opening five minutes as Phil
Baker and then Eifion Jones got in front of their man to win challenges
that set Simon Davies moving forward. The teenage midfield
pairing of Friel and Owain Jones
also set to work, with the abrasive Irishman quickly snapping into the
tackles and loose balls. However on nine minutes the smiles were
wiped off the visiting supporters are Frank Mottram was helped from the
field after turning his ankle following an attack on the left; his
replacement was Les Davies.
Bangor seemed determined to overcome this setback and on twelve
minutes a wonderful cross from rightwinger Mark Connolly found the
Druids defence lacking the height to mark Owain
Jones whose
firm downward header beat Mackin's despairing dive. Druids then
fashioned their first shot at goal when Mike Thompson sent
a fiercely struck left footer off target from 20 yards. Owain
Jones went close again but after a neat one two his shot lacked
conviction and Mackin gathered comfortably.
With City's big goalkeeper bellowing instructions from
behind his defence and the Irish student chattering noisly in front of
them, this was a far more purposeful and voiciferous City side than had
yielded three points to Newtown a week earlier.
On 23 mins City doubled their advantage as Paul Roberts found latched onto a header
from Les Davies on the left to
fire low past Mackin. Roberts then won a corner when his
shot was deflected over, Simon Davies' kick was headed on target
by Eifion Jones but Mackin again held cleanly. As half time
loomed Les Davies fired on target, Paul Friel picked up a yellow card,
before the red card incident which effectively ended the contest.
Owain Jones played laid the
ball off but was caught late by a brutal lunge from Alan Morgan which
led to a brief exchange of views. Referee Woodthorpe regained his
composure, consulted with the linesman and promptly raised the red card
to the spiteful offender who left the field to an array of comments
from the City supporters and a marked hush from the Plaskynaston
faithful. Owain Jones was carried to the
sidelines on a stretcher.

Half
Time 0-2

Whilst the City players enjoyed a half time cuppa Owain Jones
stayed on the field with Huw Griffiths to assess his mobility. He
took his place from
the kick off before Paul Roberts went close twice - the second from a
freekick - before Owain made way to young Morgan Jones on 52 mins.
Moments later Eifion Jones was rightly yellow carded for a late
challenge on Shannon before Les Davies lifted another freekick over the
Druids bar
from 25 yards.
A mistake by Clayton Blackmore then brough the best out of
the improving Phil Baker as Aiden Shannon raced goalwards but was
forced to the right by Pip who blocked the goalbound effort which
bounced out for a goalkick. On 68 mins though Bangor went 3-0 up
when Clayton Blackmore more than
made amends for his earlier slip. Playing a neat one two with
substitute Morgan Jones he drifted with a crosshot over Mackin from the
left after two Druids defenders - Aled Rowlands and Nick Parry - had
collided "keystones cops" style.
Five minutes later, on 73, it was 4-0 with Paul
Roberts planting the ball past Mackin from 20 yards after
Morgan Jones won possession on the edge of the box. The tiring Paul
Friel, who had enjoyed a fine return, then made way for the final
substitute Chris Short who slotted in at right back with Clayton moving
into a midfield barely recognisable from the one which kicked off.
As time ran out Les Davies and the combatative Mark
Connolly both fired off target from distance before a clever back heel
from Paul Roberts set Morgan Jones free. Cefn conceded a corner
but Eifion Jones' attempted header resulted in a freekick which was
quickly followed by the final whistle and three points which lift City
- perhaps temporarily - into second place.
The early impressions of Richard Acton, who held his
crosses and talked to his defence, were very promising. So too
the defensive partnership between Phil Baker and Eifion Jones. So
far so good, but with one eye on tougher times to come.

Shortcomings dealing with
set pieces came home to roost this afternoon as Newtown took three
points from three goals scored from three set plays which should have
been meat and drink to the blues rearguard.
On a bright, breezy afternoon City endured fans endured a
lifeless opening quarter in which
the visitors, depleted by suspensions, held possession but
failed to threaten the home goal. Driven on by the strengthening
wind Newtown took the lead in the 18th minute when a deep cross from
the left eluded the home defence for Mickey Brown to shoot
goalwards from close range. Goalkeeper Paul Whitfield blocked the
first effort with his legs but could not stop the follow up from
young Danny Field which went
up the 'keepers body from eight yards.
This seemed to stun City into life. Simon Davies fed the
ball to Clayton Blackmore whose right wing centre was headed over by
Paul Roberts who moments later had a shot blocked on the edge of the
Robins box. In the 22nd minute though Bangor drew level from an
unlikely source. Owain Jones passed to Mark Connolly on the edge
of then box, his finely weighted chip found Simon Davies on the left
whose his cross-shot hit Mark Allen
with striker Frank
Mottram in close attendance.
City were in charge now with Owain Jones at the centre of
proceedings. His direct
run down the middle, after playing a one-two, ended in a low drive
which brushed the left post with Edwards flat footed. On the half
hour referee Thomas reacted with a yellow card when leftback Williams
try to pull back right winger Les Davies. Veteran wide
man Mickey Brown then saw a free header sail of target from a Newtown
freekick, moments later Danny Field repeated the feat with the home
defence assuming the goalkeeper would come for the ball.
Minutes later City forced their first corner which nearly
resulted in a breakaway for the visitors. With ten minute to go
to the break Simon Davies ran down the left, laid the ball back to
Gareth Evans who high curling cross invited Owain Jones to head
goalwards but Edwards saved comfortably. But on 42 mins City had
the lead. Simon Davies passed to Frank Mottram on the right edge
of the box, he in turn supplied Les Davies who ran for the goalline
before pulling the ball back right footed for Paul
Roberts to fire home from close range. Newtown forced
a 44th minute corner but referee Thomas saved the home side's blushes
with a freekick award as the ball arrived on the penalty spot.

Half
Time 2-1

With the wind at their backs, attacking the St Pauls End, City
must have sensed a goal or two were there for the taking. Owain
Jones found the target again with a header but once more Edwards saved
easily. Then Paul Roberts raced clear on the left but his shot
was pushed away for a corner by the alert Edwards and the chance was
gone.
On 52 mins that miss proved costly. New signing Danny Moon
launched a long freekick from in front of visitors dugout. Keeper
Whitfield shaped to come but then opted to stay at home, young Robins
striker Danny Field siezed on the
uncertainty and fired home from eight yards. Bangor bounced back
to force a couple of corners but the second yielded a counter attack
which
forced a great saving tackle from Mark Connolly on the half way line.
But on 54 mins, less than two after the equaliser, Newtown
took the lead. An Oliver Williams corner from the left dipped at
the near post and sliced off a combination of 'keeper Paul Whittield's
glove and a home defender to allow Andy Webb
to volley
home from four yards out. The City defenders were dumbfounded and
the whole side felt the stuffing knocked from them.
Newton might have looked for a fourth but another telling
challenge from Mark Connolly
thwarted them, then Owain Jones watched at Edwards made another
save from his goalbound header. Les Davies saw his shot
screw off target from 25 yards as City tried to get back on level
terms. The big winger then flicked on a freekick which landed
at Owain Jones' feet but he scuffed his effort and Edwards again saved.
On 78 mins Les Davies made
way for Morgan Jones who took up a right wing position. Clayton
Blackmore then had a 25 yarder saved before home 'custodian Whitfield
saved low from Mickey Brown. City forced a succession of corners
as the final minutes slipped away and Edwards made another save from an
Owain Jones header, this time palming over for a corner. The
final action saw Clayton Blackmore's quickly taken freekick flash
across to Peter Hoy but the defender just failed to get his head to the
ball.

A first half hatrick from
former Colwyn Bay defender Mark Evans saw Caernarfon through to the
second round of the Loosemores Cup at City's expense.
But it was another defender, Tim
Brandreth, who opened the scoring for The Canaries in the
tenth minute when he headed home from a corner whipped in by Martin
Chalk City were almost level as Owain Jones hit a piledriver
which David Walsh did well to keep out..
City were unsettled and failed to control the midfield or
defend with any conviction. Mark Evans
struck his hatrick on 26, 38 and 42 minutes as he exploited time and
space in the City defence with young Dylan Owen deeply involved.
However the attack still carried menace and Owain Jones saw a
shot saved
by David Walsh in the Caernarfon goal whilst Clayton Blackmore
fired wide from outside the box. Frank Mottram also failed to
capitalise on a half chance as the home side kept their goal intact.
The dejected City side left the field to widespread
disbelief amongst the travelling
supporters and to the awaiting manager.

Half
Time 4-0

Manager Peter Davenport made two changes at half time as Simon
Davies and Peter Hoy were replaced by teenagers Gary Parr and Morgan
Jones, and the shape of the team shifted to a 4-4-2.
The changes certainly improved things from Bangor's
perspective as Les Davies reduced
the deficit on 53 minutes with a well placed header from a and inviting
cross from 18 year old Morgan Jones. Phil Baken then saw his
effort blocked after Carwyn Roberts had rattled the crossbar with a
forty yard cannonball.
Then City's outstanding performer Frank
Mottram took centre
stage with goals on 63 and 74 minutes. The first came
as he gathered the ball back to goal outside the box, turned an fired
past Walsh to make the score 4-2. Then a pass from Les
Davies enabled him to slip the ball past Walsh again, this time
from twelve yards.
Caernarfon might have increased their lead with both
Carwyn Roberts and Luke Campbell going close, Paul Whitfield had to
smother at Evans' feet as he raced clear. In the closing ten
minutes Ritchie Owen came on for Chris Short to add more punch to the
frontline, and whilst City might have seen more reward from goalbound
efforts from Owain Jones and goalscorer Mottram it was not to be.

Battling Bangor fought back
from an early Nomads goal to grab all three goals thanks to an 88th
minute strike from Frank Mottram. The win was soured though in
the closing minutes when Referee Andy Richards sent Paul Roberts off
for failing to retreat ten yards from a freekick.
City boss Peter Davenport opted again for the 5-3-2 formation
with Phil Baker playing in the middle alongside Eifion Jones and Chris
Short. But all that counted for nothing as Paul Whitfield pulled
off a
smart save from Tommy Mutton who had raced in behind the new look
defence. On three minutes there was more uncertainty and this
time former Cefn United and Buckley striker Darren
Williams lifted the ball over Paul Whitfield for an easy
lead.
Clayton Blackmore provided City's first efforts on target
as his 20 yard drive fired wide with Lee Williams a spectator, then
Mark Connolly seized on a ball from the Welsh International but his
effort screwed off target. On 16 mins Simon Davies was yellow
carded for a trip before five mins later Paul Roberts joined him in the
book for kicking
the ball away.
On 22 mins Craig Hutchinson conceded a penalty for a trip
on Clayton Blackmore which Paul Roberts
converted
confidently. Paul Whitifeld then made a good save from Tomy
Mutton who might have done better. On 35 mins City claimed
the lead when Paul
Roberts seized on a clever
overhead pass from Mark Connolly to fire home past Lee Williams in the
Nomads net.
Darren Williams might have levelled the scores when he was
set up by John Kenworthy but his effort lacked any real malice.
One reason to he cheerful for Bangor boss would have been the
form of centre half Phil Baker who won his headers and steadied the
ship against Nomads attacks.

Half
Time 1-2

The paying punters had scarcely taken their seats when on 49 mins
Bangor went 3-1 ahead. A Frank Mottram cross from the right
seemed to have no obvious target but home defender George Horan sliced an attempted clearance
into the net. Three mins later Danny Jellicoe was yellow carded
and minutes later Stuart Rain came on for midfielder Craig Hutchinson.
Eifion Jones then had to be alert to snuff out two attacks
inspired by Rain. On the hour Bangor won their first corner of the
evening which saw Peter Hoy fail to convert a close range chance which
might have closed the game out.
From a second corner moments later Paul Roberts saw his
shot held by Lee Williams but on 71 mins the meddlesome Stuart Rain found space at the back post
as a cross from the right him
unmarked; the result was inevitable. Two minutes later
and Bangor's record transfer sale Tommy Mutton
evened the scoring as he raced down on goal to chip
the ball past Paul Whitfield before netting calmly from the right.
Three all and the travelling Bangor horde was silenced.
With 15 mins to go City sent on Les Davies for Eifion Jones.
The runaway truck set about ruining Dean Tuft's evening and
turning the tide towards the Nomads goal. The 19 year gathered
the ball on the left, charged past the startled Tuft, but saw his shot
crash into the side netting.
Peter Hoy then made a great tackle on the pacey Tommy
Mutton before Tuft was replaced by Andy Griffiths. John Kenworthy
was then yellow carded for works passed to referee Richards. On
88 mins City snatched what turned out to be the winning goal. The
commanding Phil Baker collected the ball on the half way line and ran
right to
left - towards the mainstand - before finding Paul Roberts with an
intelligent pass which was immediately flicked on to the lurking Frank Mottram who turned
his defender to drill left footed beyond Lee Williams' despairing dive.
Paul Roberts then sent a 30 yard freekick on target which
Lee Williams saved but the Criccieth striker was then shown a second
yellow for failing to retreat from a Nomads freekick. Happily
that was just about the final action of note before the City tribe
could celebrate three rare points at the Deeside Stadium.

Bangor moved up to third
place in the WP with nine points from four games and silenced those who
suggested the side lacked courage or commitment.
Despite leaving Farrar Road at 7.30am Bangor did not arrive at
Afan Lido until 2.30 after being ensnarled in an hour long delay close
the Celtic Manor Hotel. Then on 50 minutes the game was stopped
as leftwingback Gareth Evans received treatment for a worrying head
injury. All this without young wingers Les Davies and Morgan
Jones
who withdrew through injury and the long term absentee Chris Priest
whose good luck message arrived before kick off.
It all started brighltly enough as Paul Roberts went close but a
second corner on ten minutes yielded the breakthrough. Simon
Davies sent a corner onto Mark Connolly's head and Frank Mottram reacted first to slide the
ball home from
close range. But City fans had hardly finished celebrating when
the the impressive Karl Reynolds
levelled the scores with a clean left footed strike.
On the quarter hour things
got worse for City when young Liam McCreesh found time
and space on the right to cross for Kevin
Bartley to tap in from close
range. City won their fifth corner on 25 mins but Paul Roberts
saw his chip saved by Brian Thomas before Lido swept up to the other
end and forced a good low save from Paul Whitfield as Andre Rickhard's
header nearly crept in.
On 31 mins it was all square at two all. A sixth Bangor
corner was partly cleared to the right but Frank
Mottram's well placed side footer sped in off the
underside of the crossbar to the delight of the travelling fans.
Three minutes later a seventh corner was delivered by Clayton
Blackmore - who had driven from Heathrow after his flight from
Azerbaijan - for Owain Jones to
rise high above the Lido defence for a clean header home.
Lido forced a couple of corners of their own but the feeling was
that City had a chance to seal the win. Frank Mottram might have
grabbed his hatrick when he cut in from the left but he hesitated and
the defenders pounced.

Half
Time 2-3

The first action of the second
half saw a left wing cross seem destined for Chris Piper but
Gareth Evans bravely headed away at the back post. The former
Newtown defender fell to the ground with blood seeping from a wide gash
above his left ear after an accidental clash of heads. Within
minutes he was being driven to A&E by Lido secretary Phil Robinson
with Ken Jones for company.
City regrouped with Gareth
Dogan joining the three man midfield and Clayton Blackmore
moving to left wingback. The substitute wasted no time in making
an impression but after creating an opening he
dragged his shot wide from 18 yards. Then right wingback
Mark Connolly, who had enjoyed an industrious afternoon - sent
over a high swirling cross which Paul Roberts met but headed off
target. Young Dogan then controlled a Simon Davies cross
but Mark Connolly fired wide from outside the box.
Bangor forced another corner but again Paul Roberts' frustration
grew as his shot sailed the wrong side of the upright. Owain
Jones then sent
a long range effort at Brian Thomas' goal but it span harmlessly wide.
Referee Ray Ellingham had enjoyed a peaceful afternoon - he had
his hands full coping with two erratic linesmen - but
on 67 mins he reached for the yellow card when Paul Evans fouled one
of City's teenagers Owain Jones.
Clayton Blackmore ventured
forward to fire narrowly wide from 25 yards out on the left
with twenty minutes to go, then Frank Mottram deflected a long
clearance into the path of Paul Roberts but he shot wide from 18
yards. However Lido must have sensed they were still in with a
shout and only a last ditch interception by Simon Davies denied
Bartley. The ensuing throw in was crossed invitingly for Chris
Piper but his downward effort bounced and cleared the crossbar from
five yards! Moments later Piper fired across goal from
a great position and was immediately replaced by Chris Pridham.
In the closing minutes Frank Mottram missed the target with a
header form Clayton Blackmore's cross before the Welsh International
was booked for a foul. Deep into the five minutes of stoppage
time Clayton responded with a dipping volley which just missed the far
post from the left. Then the final whistle and a job well done,
blood sweat and tears, but three points and heads held high.

Caernarfon will take a
deserved advantage into the second leg of the Loosemores Cup after an
entertaining match at Farrar Road.
The unlikely hero for the
Canaries was one of their former Racecourse legion, rightback
Mark Evans, who scored twice with some aplomb. The villain was
the dreadful Kevin Parry and his assistants who had no obvious idea
what they were doing. That said their performance should not
detract from the visitors advantage which was hard fought.
City took the lead inside five minutes when Owain Jones
was put through by Frank
Mottram and fired goalwards. Goalkeeper David Walsh could
only parry the effort and Paul Roberts slotted
home the rebound for his fifth goal of the season. The visiting
supporters vented their frustration
at an obvious offside in the build up at the bald linesman.
Young Morgan Jones was enjoying some possession on the
right against another teenager Carwyn Roberts, the visitors No 3 but
Eifion Jones became the first yellow card victim for a crude challenge
on Caernarfon striker Aaron Thomas. Moments later Simon Davies
was yellow carded for having the ball thrown at him by Aaron Thomas who
joined him
in the book.
On the half hour Bangor won a corner which was cleared
upfield for Mark Evans
to lash a powerful drive which Paul Whitfield clutched gratefully.
Five minutes later though a superb crossfield ball from young
Carwyn Roberts on the left was smashed home by Mark
Evans from 25 yards out on
the right edge of the box to level the scores.
Bangor bounced back
with their third corner of the evening as Gary Parr's right wing cross
to Frank Mottram was blocked, from the kick Owain Jones saw his header
loop into the Farrar End netting. Then Peter Hoy raced in to
collect a loose ball on the half way line before sending a glorious
crossfield ball to Paul Roberts in the Caernarfon box. He stepped
outside the defender but pulled a low drive
across goal.
That was the final meaningful action of the first half and
the sides trouped off level at one all.

Half
Time 1-1

Bangor started brightly
again with an early corner and then a good low cross from Paul
Roberts which Frank Mottram turned goalwards but Walsh saved bravely.
The Peter Hoy had to be alert to clear a goalbound effort from
niggly midfielder Osian Jones.
On 53 mins it was the visitors who took the lead.
Aaron Thomas drew the City defence close to the half way line
before releasing the shaven headed Colin
Quirke who beat Paul Whitfield from the left edge of the
box. Moments later Osian Jones saw his close range shot hit the
crossbar. City moved forward through the industrious Chris Short
whose pass found Morgan Jones. He crossed for Frank Mottram but a
flick header drifted over.
Chris Short was duly yellow carded for a deliberate
handball on the half way mark before on the hour Les Davies came off
the bench to replace left winger Gary Parr. The big lad quickly
got involved and an opening soon fell to Paul Roberts but his close
range shot lacked
conviction. The visitors were always dangerous on the break, with
Thomas a complete pest, and he was involved as two corners
culminated in Paul Whitfield saving well from left footer Luke
Campbell.
On 70 mins Paul Roberts fired off target after good work
on the left from Les Davies. City forced a 6th corner when a deep
left wing cross
from
Gareth Evans forced Walsh to palm over. From the corner kick City
had a loud appeal for
handball turned away, then minutes later Paul Roberts was
yellow carded for dissent after querying some odd decisions by
Referee Parry. Two such incidents saw freekicks awarded to
Caernarfon defenders who seemed guilty of what used to be termed
"obstruction". Parry had already vexed home fans by allowing
Aaron Thomas to remain onfield after receiving trreatment but sending
Frank Mottram to the sidelines in similar circumstances.
Two substitutions followed as Simon Davies made way for
Gareth Dogan and then Lee Jones replaced Colin Quirke. On 78
minutes it was 3-1 as
fullback Mark Evans again drove
home cleanly from the edge of the box. City were incensed and Les
Davies in particular seemed determined to make an impact and within a
minute he was involved as Owain Jones
headed home. However there were more cards to issue, Luke
Campbell and Owain Jones for precious little. Frank Mottram then
sliced his effort wide from 15 yards before on 83
mins Mark Connolly replaced Eifion Jones. Paul Whittield pulled
off another good save, Caernarfon sent on Matt Phillips
for Aaron Thomas.
Bangor forced corners eight and nine, big Les saw a
goalbound effort blocked in the six yard area, then after three mins of
added time the lunatic in chief blew his whistle and the visiting fans
clapped loudest - and then the visiting players then clapped their
fans. All a bit strange but all to play for at The Oval
in a fortnight when Bangor know they must defend with more conviction
to progress.

Bangor were beaten by a
determined Porthmadog side who were quicker to the ball and well worth
their 2-0 win. In the towering Lee Webber they had the
outstanding defender on view and upfront the muscular Mark Williams
made his mark on City's centrebacks. Home fans hoping for a third
straight win to celebrate the return of Simon Davies were to be
disappointed.
Port made the early running with left winger Gareth Caughter who
caused problems for Clayton Blackmore and Mark Connolly who had
replaced Morgan
Jones. On the quarter hour City had an opening as Clayton
Blackmore's chipped pass was collected by Owain Jones but he delayed
his shot for a moment and the chance was gone. Five minutes later
Paul Roberts found Frank Mottram in the Port box. His lay
off invited Mark Connolly to shoot but the rising effort flew into the
Farrar End. Minutes later Paul Roberts fired goalwards after
a neat passing triangle involving Frank Mottram, Owain Jones and Simon
Davies.
Both side forced corners - nine in all with City one better off
- but few clear cut chances ensued. Then on the stroke of half
time a bit of luck for the visitors saw a deflected freekick roll
unguarded in the Bangor box and local lad Ryan
Davies reacted first to fire home from close range.
The following five minutes -either side of half time and
including three mins of stoppage time - shaped the final outcome.
Clayton Blackmore sent a superb freekick over from the right but
Paul Roberts saw his header hit the crossbar. Then the stocky
striker pounced on a loose ball outside the box but his powerful low
drive veered narrowly off target with McGuigan apparently beaten.
However the half time whistle saw the visitors 1-0 ahead.
With City anticipating the support of a stiff breeze from the
Farrar End there was still room for optimism amongt the home fans
queing for a burger in the Farrar end.

Half
Time 0-1

To pick up the theme
of the closing minutes of the first period, the second goal for
Port came on 48 minutes. A Gareth Caughter cross from the
left was allowed to sail to the head of Mark
Williams whose downward header squeezed past Paul Whitfield
at the foot of the "back" post. What is it about players going
back to their former clubs?
On 55 minutes it should really have been 3-0 but Carl
Owen's cross was headed
over by Williams from six yards out. Moments later Williams went
close again as City's centrebacks struggled to deal with the two former
Citizens. With around half and hour
remaining Paul Roberts sent Owain Jones' pass across goal from
the right but Frank Mottram screwed his shot wide. Moments later
he was replaced by Aled Rowlands with Les Davies moving to
partner Paul Roberts upfront. To be fair the big winger made
little impact against his older brother Ryan and the dominant Webber.
Port forced their
7th corner of the match when Eifion Jones made a good
tackle on Carl Owen. Bangor responded with their 8th
& 9th corners but in all honesty could muster little to trouble
McGuigan in the Port goal. More subs followed after City's
10th corner as Tom Reynolds replaced Carl Owen and Morgan Jones came on
for Mark Connolly who had struggled to make his mark on
the right. With around ten minutes remaining Simon Davies
saw his clean 20 yarder held by McGuigan.
In the closing minutes Bangor forced their 11th and 12th
corners - Port ended up with seven - but no real chances emerged.
The final whistle saw understandable joy amongst the visiting
contingent with their strong Bangor links. None more so than
former City players Osian Jones and Viv Williams who had masterminded a
disciplined performance and deserved win. Oh, and Brian Lawler
refereed the affair calmly and competently, no scapegoat there, just a
poor home performance all said and done.

Spirit of '62? The ten men who won the
Welsh Cup Final in '98? Add to this the Spirt of 2004 as ten
men fought back from 2-1 down to overhaul Tommy Morgan's expensively
assembled Welshpool side who now have just one point from two outings.
But there was a high price to pay with midfielder Chris Priest
stretchered from the field with a broken leg.
The first half was - almost - a game of two halves! City
started brightly, playing into a breeze blowing from the Farrar End.
The sunny afternoon soon got even brighter as new midfielder Chris Priest saw his deflected shot
wrongfoot new 'Pool keeper Lewis for a fifth minute advantage.Within a minute it could be have two nil as
Priest this time supplied Les Davies but the new Welsh U21
International fired wide from twelve yards.The big winger then cut inside from the left to
shoot right footed but narrowly off target.
On 13 mins the first yellow card issued by the prolific Mr
Whitby to Ross Jefferies for a foul on Peter Hoy. Then the game
swung entirely to the visitors who just about ran Bangor ragged for the
rest
of the half. Their control was at its most complete in a
spell which yielded three corners in quick succession and saw two
effort cleared off the line - one by Clayton Blackmore - and Brett
Jefferies head against the crossbar.
City broke away on the half hour to win a corner through
18 year old
Morgan Jones but defender Eifion Jones saw his header cleanly held by
Solly. Welshpool forced their fifth corner off the
vigilant Clayton Blackmore before Owain Jones created an opening for
Paul Roberts but the Criccieth marksman dragged his effort
wide.
With 37 mins on the clock the visitors deservedly drew
level when Ross Jefferies ran
infield from the left to elude two Bangor defenders before sending a
low drive beyond the despairing Paul Whitfield from fully 30 yards.Welshpool were now in full sway with Ricky
Evans and Dave Cunnah dominant in midfield. Eifion Jones found
himself defending deep but saved the day with
an excellent tackle on the rampant Ross Jefferies. The
largely anonymous Craig Wilkinson was then yellow card recipient number
two for a reckless challenge on Morgan Jones.
But with Cty fans welcoming the whistle The Lilywhites
took the lead.
Again it was Ross Jefferies
who found space on the right to round Whitfield and slot
the ball home from the fifteen yards. City barely had
time to kick off before the half time whistle blew to a despondent home
crowd.

Half
Time 1-2

The opening minutes of the second period saw Peter Hoy's
goalbound effort blocked and Paul Whitfield save well from Ross
Jefferies. Hoy then became yellow card victim no 3 for Referee
Whitby for a foul on Steve Rogers. On the hour Mark Connolly came
on as a direct replacement for right winger Morgan Jones. Then
disaster.
Chris Priest lost possession on the half way line and
lunged at Ricky
Evans as the big midfielder moved away with the ball. There was
an audible cracking noise before both players lay injured on the half
way line. City fans in the main stand were incensed as visiting
striker Steve Rogers ran to the 'Pool dugout to announce that Priest
was to be red carded. After a two minute stoppage and the arrival
of a stretcher that is precisely what happened though. Down to
ten men and a goal down.
Three things now conspired to involve the crowd. One
the sending off, two the antics of Steve Rogers, three the feeling of
injustice as the inconsistent Whitby seemed to referee by the toss of a
coin.
By way of re-organisation City must have contemplated
replacing one of the strikers to bolster the midfield. Perhaps is
the scoreline had been the other way round the might have. But
with goals needed a rough 3-4-2 shape sprang to life with Mark Connolly
and Les Davies as wingbacks. The one City player who
looked the most hurt by some unkind half time comments was Owain
Jones and it was the towering youngster who now rose to the challenge
and drove City on.
On 68 mins Les Davies ran powerfully down the right,
crossed to Frank Mottram whose deft lay off presented Owain Jones with a chance the youngster
accepted with glee to level the scores. Yellow cards were then
rapidly flashed at Clayton Blackmore and substitute Mark Connolly whose
energy and commitment were obvious to all. Welshpool replaced the
injured Dave Cunnah with Gary Roberts before Paul Roberts squandered a
chance to put City ahead after a good through ball from Les Davies.
But on 80 mins he made amends as the visitors defence
parted for Paul Roberts to race
clear and drive the ball past Solly. Craig Wilkinson then fired
wide from 30 yards before Gary Roberts was replaced following a brief
encounter with Mark Connolly, the spring heeled Chris
Courtney took his place. With the visitors pressing hard for
an equaliser Eifion Jones again defended bravely, big Les Davies flew
into tackles with tremendous force, the calm head belonged to Clayton
Blackmore who did much to keep a lid on the boiling pot.
Then the final act. A long ball down the left was
collected by Frank Mottram who cut
inside to hold off a defender before firing low into the 'Pool net to
the delight of the St Pauls End brigade who were practically hoarse.
100 WP goals for Magic? Spirt of '62?
Fantastic. The Weston Rhyn builder might just
have added a fifth, but not quite, and then after seven minutes
of stoppage time, the whistle finally blew.

Highly rated striker Paul Roberts grabbed a
hatrick as Llanelli failed to recover from their late arrival at Farrar
Road which resulted in a 3pm kick off.
The opening twenty minutes offered no real indication of the
carnage to follow, other than a clear opening spurned by Roberts who
was sent clear on goal by strike partner Frank Mottram. Owain and
Morgan Jones both hit the target but 'keeper Pritchard was scarcely
troubled.
Then the twenty first minute which changed everything.
Chris Priest ran to the right of the Llanelli box and his cross
was never properly dealt with by the reds with Les Davies able to
gather on the left and cross back in for Owain
Jones to bungle the ball home from close range to the
delight of the Farrar End fans behind the goal. The visitors
responded with Jeff Aspell testing debutant keeper Paul Whitfield
before Morgan Jones sent a curler wide of target.
On forty minutes Morgan Jones won a corner which again was
not properly cleared. In the aftermath Frank Mottram was tripped
by Phillips who had few complaints as Andy Richard pointed to the
penalty spot. Paul Roberts
converted the kick with confidence to double the lead
and take his goal tally to 50 for City in league matches. Minutes
later the Weston Rhyn marksman Frank Mottram won City's second
corner but this one was cleared.
However on
45 minutes Llanelli were out of the running. Chris Priest,
warming to his task in midfield, set Morgan Jones free on the right.
His cross to the back post found Paul
Roberts whose clean header had
the Farrar End fans clapping once more. There was scarcely
time for Llanelli to kick off before the half time whistle blew and the
blue shirted Bangor side trotted off to a warm ovation.

Half
Time 3-0

The half time news
was less encouraging as Owain Jones was withdrawn. His replacement was
Chris Short who slotted in at right back with the experienced Clayton
Blackmore moving into midfield alongside Chris Priest. The first
chance of the second period fell to Frank Mottram
but his effort flew off target then Paul Roberts also failed to hit
the target.
On 62 mins 18 year old Morgan Jones made way for Gary
Parr, one year older, on the right wing. On 74 mins it was 4-0 as
Paul Roberts completed his
hatrick after a brave run into the visitors box saw him
partly stopped before regaining his feet to score from close range.
Two minutes later, on 76, the goal of the game. Paul
Roberts found himself on the right hand side of midfield. He
looked up and powered a crossfield ball to Clayton Blackmore on the
right. Clayton delivered a cross to the edge of the box which was
despatched with malice by the inrushing Les
Davies whose left footed strike was past Pritchard before he
could react! Before the restart Mark Connolly
replaced
Chris Priest in midfield.
The heat and humidity were growing factors as both sides
frequently sought drinks. But City were not prepared to go the
motions. On 86 minutes the mercurial Paul Roberts ran the ball at
the Llanelli goal before supplying Frank
Mottram who finished well from the left via the post.
There was still time for Mottram and substitute Mark Connolly to
go close before Referee Richards brought an end to proceedings.
Manager Peter Davenport must have been pleased with the
eventual scoreline both in terms of the goals scored and a clean sheet.